Not Just Fun and Games

Past the pom poms, smiles, and energetic cheers and chants, injuries are common with high school cheerleading. Although cheerleading is often times not considered to be a sport, let me assure you that it is a competitive sport and it has injury rates comparable to other sports.
A 13-year follow-up study observed cheerleaders between the ages of 5 and 18 years old. The study reported injuries to the lower extremity (37.3%), upper extremity (26.4%), head and neck (18.8%), trunk (16.8%), and other (0.8%). The most common injury in the 12-18 years age group was a strain or sprain to the lower extremity. Over the course of the 13-year study, the number of cheerleading-related injuries increased to be more than double compared with other studies.
Since November 1898, when Johnny Campbell led the first cheers at a Minnesota University football game, there is no doubt that cheerleading has changed with the times.
Previous cheerleading styles have changed to more gymnastic-type cheerleading skills, requiring a high level of skill and athleticism. This change combines the injury risks of cheerleading with those of gymnastics.
Not only have the risks for the sport increased, but combined with the fact that the sport typically spans more than just one season, cheerleaders must perform for months on end in varying weather and settings because sports typically span just one season. To top it off, cheerleaders are also asked to participate in national competitions and attend cheerleading training camps in the summer.

Let's break it down
When you break down the variety of activities in cheerleading, you end up with dances, chants and yells, partner stunts, and gymnastic tumbling. The dance component of cheerleading will cause those injuries that are common in modern dance and ballet. These injuries can include overuse injuries of the legs such as stress fractures and tension and ligament inflammation of the hip, knee, ankle, and foot.
The chant and cheer routines can not only cause a sore knee, but also have the risk of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury if the cheerleader.
Most injuries in cheerleading occur during gymnastics and partner stunts, with knee and ankle ligament injuries caused by landing and impact from during tumbling, whereas shoulder and wrist impingements and dislocation are caused by partner stunts. The shoulder and wrist injuries are more likely to occur in the "base" cheerleader with the "flier" cheerleader having the risk of catastrophic injury, fractures, and dislocations caused by falls from stunts involving mounts.

On Injuries
The most common injury for high school cheerleaders is a strain or sprain to the lower extremity. So, what's the difference between a sprain and a strain? Although they sound similar, they're actually very different. A sprain is an injury to a ligament whereas, a strain is an injury to a tendon or muscle and both are caused from overuse or trauma.
A sprain or strain can both occur at any area in the lower extremity, but the most susceptible joint is the ankle then followed by the knee. When an injury occurs, for immediate treatment think RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. Upon determination that an athlete has sustained a serious musculoskeletal injury, the athlete should be seen by an Orthopaedic Specialist, whom will be able to correctly diagnose and treat the injury.


Decreasing Injuries
- Maintain proper nutrition & hydration and avoid fatigue
- Prepare for the season, keep up some training during offseason
- When starting new season, allow some time for adjustment back to full practices and training
- Seek proper medical attention and follow-up as necessary following an injury
- Reference the National Youth Sports Federation for further information on sports safety information
- Follow the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors (AACCA) Cheerleading Safety Guidelines
- Got Spirit? Another principal technical and safety reference resource for cheerleading coaches is the Spirit Rule Book from the AACCA