Cheer

Physiology of cheerleading

Cheerleading involves a number of components done both individually and combined with each other. Some of those components include cheers, tumbling or gymnastic maneuvers, stunts, pyramids and dance routines.

Common cheerleading injuries

While the research on cheerleading injuries is sparse, we can surmise the types of injuries that do occur. Cheerleading injuries are similar to gymnastics and dance. Knee injuries occur from cutting and twisting; upper body injuries occur when putting weight on the arms (either hands on the ground or arms overhead supporting teammates). Foot/ankle and hip injuries occur from repetitive motions.

A 1997 study showed the following injury rates

• Ankle, 22%
• Knee, 15%
• Hand, 13%
• Back, 12%

One of the few studies on the time lost to cheerleading-related injuries found an average of 28.8 days lost because of injury (Axe et al., 1991). Comparing that to other sports in that study makes that number quite dramatic (girls basketball, 12.8 days lost; girls cross country, 8.2 days lost; football, 5.6 days lost).

Most injuries (at least 2/3) to cheerleaders occur during gymnastic tumbling maneuvers.

This high number of injuries supports the need for injury prevention programs (link this to our injury prevention section). In addition to the previously mentioned injury prevention programs, the following summary from the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors (AACCA) is appropriate.

Preseason history and physical examinations should be done on all athletes.

Emphasis on optimizing conditioning is important.

Coaches should be qualified to teach cheerleading and gymnastics and supervise all activity in a safe facility with the best equipment available

Athletes should demonstrate mastery of stunts in a safe, progressive fashion …simplest to most difficult

Mini-trampolines and flips or falls off pyramids should be prohibited

Pyramid and partner stunts over shoulder level should not be performed without mats or spotters

Emergency procedures and plans should be carefully outlined prior to any practice or performance

Teams we’ve worked with:

• Nebraska Tigers
• Creighton University
• Omaha-area high schools