As with everything else, sport can pose a dangerous risk to
competitive athletes. Therefore, preventative measures have been put in place
to decrease the chance of emergency injuries, such as the penalty/carding
system, and the ban of violent maneuvers. Within cheerleading, conditions for
basket tossing and the varying restrictions of the different levels attempt to
proactively decrease the prevalence of injury occurring. Unfortunately,
accidents can still happen. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
estimates that cheerleading yields >17,000 emergency room visits in the US
alone, and while the injury rate remains low for the sport overall, it still
accounts for >65% of all catastrophic injuries experienced by female high
school athletes over the past 25 years. So even though emergencies in the sport
are rare, it is no less important that staff and coaches are appropriately
prepared and equipped with the skills necessary to intervene in the case of a
crisis situation. "[Cheerleading] accounts for >65% of all catastrophic injuries experienced by female high school athletes over the past 25 years."
Cheerleading has seen an enormous increase in popularity over
the past forty years; however, Dr. Cynthia LaBella cautions that the increase
in participation brings more demanding stunts and therefore more injuries. The
most common injuries seen in cheerleading include fractures, dislocations, cuts
and head injuries, some of which may require hospital attention. Fortunately,
the physiotherapy staff at CheerMed are located on-site, and have undergone advanced
training through Sport Physiotherapy Canada’s “First Responder for Sport”
course, to be able to immediately and effectively help should an emergency
arise.
In addition to a review of Standard First Aid/CPR training,
the course provides participants with an advanced ability to respond to common
emergency situations seen in sport, whether it be on-site or on the sidelines.
These include effectively screening for and managing head injuries (like a
concussion or skull fracture), bleeds, and fractures, administering oxygen and
an automated external defibrillator (AED), and maintaining safety precautions
when transferring athletes onto spinal boards in case of a possible spine or
neck injury.
When it comes to injury, prevention is key. Studies suggest
that enhancing the number and training of spotters, mandating floor mats for
complex stunts, restricting complex stunts when surfaces are wet, and
encouraging safety certification for coaches are all strategies that can reduce
catastrophic injuries in cheerleaders. Furthermore, all stunts, pyramids,
basket tosses and tumbling should be taught in a progressive, level-appropriate
manner, and should be performed with spotters and mats. Fortunately, all of the
cheer gyms we work with are very safety conscious and ensure that all of their
coaches are properly trained! The safety and well-being of athletes is one of
CheerMed’s top priorities, and while it is convenient that the physiotherapy
staff have acquired this advanced training, we hope that we won’t need to use
it.
www.CheerMedRehab.com
References:
Burt,
Catharine W., and Mary D. Overpeck. "Emergency visits for sports-related
injuries." Annals of
emergency medicine 37.3
(2001): 301-308.
Labella, Cynthia R., et al. "Cheerleading
injuries: Epidemiology and recommendations for prevention." Pediatrics 130.5 (2012): 966-971.
Watters,
D. A., et al. "Sports injuries in an accident and emergency
department." Archives of
emergency medicine 1.2
(1984): 105-111.
