AAOS offers guidelines for avoiding cheerleading injuries

Cheerleading is one of the leading sports-related causes of severe, traumatic injury in females, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). As such, the academy recommends that cheerleaders observe certain safety guidelines.

Injuries among cheerleaders often result from gymnastic tumbling or dangerous maneuvers. Two such maneuvers include the pyramid, in which the cheerleader at the top is most often injured after falling and landing on a hard surface, and the basket toss, a stunt in which a cheerleader is thrown into the air, often between 6 and 20 feet, by three or four other cheerleaders.

Injuries such as bruises, twisted ankles, shin splints and head and neck injuries can also occur while cheerleaders are performing simple routines on unforgiving surfaces like gymnasium floors, according to an AAOS press release.

“Cheerleading has evolved into a physically demanding and competitive sport requiring complex gymnastic maneuvers that pose a serious threat of injury to participants,” said Daniel Green, MD, spokesperson for the AAOS and a pediatric orthopedic surgeon in New York. “Cheerleading injuries may be prevented through increased spotter training, mandating the use of floor mats for complex stunts, and encouraging safety education and proper training for coaches.”

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, cheerleading injuries have more than doubled since 1990. In 2007, they accounted for more than 74,000 injuries.

In the press release, Green said sprains and strains accounted for more than half of those injuries, and more than 16% of injuries involved fractures or dislocations. Nearly 4% involved concussions and other closed head injuries.

As part of its injury-prevention efforts, the AAOS recommends the following guidelines for avoiding cheerleading injuries:

A cheerleading squad should practice and perform only under the direction of a qualified and knowledgeable adviser or coach.
Make sure the environment is suitable for the activity. For example, cheerleading practice should take place on a surface with the appropriate matting, not on hard surfaces such as concrete or asphalt, wet or uneven surfaces, or surfaces with obstructions.
All squads should receive thorough training in proper spotting techniques.
Never build a stunt 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 (ie, sprains, strains, head and neck injuries, fractures and dislocations) and how to treat them. Establish a chain of command (coach, assistant coach, captain, co-captain, etc.) that you use in case an injury occurs, according to the press release.

For more information:
www.orthoinfo.org