The dangers of cheerleading
If you think sports’ cheerleading might be an easy activity, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons sharply disagrees. Orthopedic surgeons note that while cheerleading is considered a true sport, it can be a potentially dangerous one, too for severe and traumatic injuries.
Cheerleading, in fact, is the leading sport for severe injuries to women in high school and college. Injuries among cheerleaders often result from gymnastic tumbling or maneuvers such as the “pyramid” and the “basket toss.” In the pyramid drill, the cheerleader at the top is most often injured after falling and landing on a hard surface. The basket toss is a stunt in which a cheerleader is thrown into the air, often between 6 and 20 feet, by three or four other cheerleaders. But injuries such as bruises, twisted ankles, shin splints — even head and neck injuries — can also occur while cheerleaders are performing simple routines on unforgiving surfaces like gymnasium floors. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, cheerleading injuries have more than doubled since 1990. Orthopedic surgeons recommend these guidelines:
- A cheerleading squad squad should practice and perform only under the direction of qualified and knowledgeable advisers or coaches.
- Make sure the environment is suitable for activity. Cheerleaderss should practice on a surface with appropriate matting — not on surfaces such as concrete or asphalt, or wet or uneven surfaces.
- All squads should receive thorough training in proper spotting techniques.
- Never build stunts without the coach present.
- All stunts, including “pyramids” and “basket tosses,” should be reviewed and approved by the coach prior to execution.
- Familiarize your squad with the most-common cheerleading injuries and how to treat them.
-Jim Killackey, Medical Writer
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