Cheerleading is no longer about dancing and moving pom-poms in the air. Today, cheerleaders are required to have gymnastic and athletic skills that involve tumbling and stunts, doing double flips and making human pyramids. These developments have made cheerleading a dangerous sport and injuries (sometimes very serious) have become commonplace.
Cheerleading Injuries: What the Statistics Say
Here are some statistics around cheerleading related injuries:
• According to a US Consumer Product Safety Commission report, in 2008 alone there were more than 30,000 emergency room visits related to cheerleading injuries. The Commission said that cheerleading injuries had quadrupled between 1982 and 2008.
• In the US, cheerleading injuries consist of around 66% of all major sport injuries among high school and college students.
• A study conducted by the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury indicates that during 1984-2009 half of the catastrophic injuries in the country were due to cheerleading, including three deaths.
While most people seek the services of Montana lawyers when there are car accidents or because of medical malpractice, we usually do not do the same for cheerleading injuries. One must consult a Billings, MT attorney in case of cheerleading injury or death.
Cheerleading Related Injuries
The most common cheerleading injuries are:
• Ankle sprains
• Back injuries
• Head injuries (including concussions)
• Broken arms
• Knee injuries
• Torn tendons
• Elbow injuries
• Soft tissue injuries
• Fractures/dislocations
• Lacerations/avulsions
Mostly disabilities and deaths are caused by head and spine injuries. The lack of amenities, novice coaches and an expounded rate of stunts are usually the causes of these injuries.
Preventing Cheerleading Related Injuries
While you may feel proud of your child performing risky routines, there are some safety measures that are essential to prevent serious injuries. As a parent, you could check out:
• The place where your child is performing
• The coach's experience, including the kind of athletes the coach has worked with and whether he/she has gymnastic stunt work experience
• What stunts will be performed in the cheerleading routine
• The cheerleading team that your child is a member of
• Who is supervising the performance
Proper safety checks should be conducted and safety and emergency training should be given to the cheerleaders, coaches, trainers and parents.
About Solomon Neuhardt:
Solomon Neuhardt is the owner and lead attorney at Neuhardt Law Firm, a member of the American Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, and represents individuals and families in personal injury cases, including accidents, medical malpractice, defective products, dog bites, and insurance disputes.
