While they don't happen as often as in other sports, high school cheerleading injuries tend to be more severe.
Cheerleading has become the leading cause of catastrophic injury in young female athletes, according to Amy Miller Bohn, a physician at the University of Michigan Health System department of family medicine in Ann Arbor, Mich. And while they don’t happen as frequently as in other sports, high school cheerleading injuries are more severe. They account for at least 65 percent of all catastrophic injuries in high school, according to the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injuries. That makes cheerleading the most dangerous activity in school.
Ankle and Wrist Sprain
A sprain is what happens when a ligament stretches or tears.
A sprain occurs when ligaments - the strong bands of tissue that connect bones within a joint - stretch or tear. Ankle and wrist sprains, two of the most common injuries among cheerleaders, can result when the ligament has suffered a hard, awkward or unnatural landing. Symptoms of a sprain are hard to dismiss; they include pain and/or tenderness, swelling, bruising, coldness or numbness in the foot and/or hand, inability to walk or bear weight on the joint and severe stiffness. The most common treatment for a sprain is rest, ice, compression and elevation. And depending upon the severity of the sprain, it could lead to chronic instability if left untreated.
Knee Injuries
Knee injuries are often related to overuse.
Knee injuries are often related to overuse from excessive jumping, twisting or running. Although there are many types of knee injuries, the most common symptoms are intense pain, swelling, tenderness, redness, aching, warmth, stiffness and, if the area becomes infected, fever. If you are suffering from knee pain that isn’t severe or disabling, try treating it yourself with rest, ice, compression and elevation. However, according to the Mayo Clinic website, if you are experiencing trouble walking, a worrisome pain, marked knee swelling, an obvious deformity of the knee or a fever, in addition to the redness, pain and swelling, you should seek immediate medical attention.
Shoulder Injuries
It's important to stretch before each practice and performance.
Shoulder injuries commonly occur in cheerleaders due to the intense nature of the stunts they perform, including lifts, acrobatics and the occasional hard fall. Most shoulder injuries are the result of muscle strains or ligament sprains and, if treated properly, can usually be healed within two to six weeks, provided there are no serious underlying medical issues. That's why it is important to stretch before each practice and performance. Symptoms of shoulder injuries are often described as a sharp pain or a dull ache. It is important to identify the cause of pain with the help of a physician and treat it as prescribed to avoid re-injury.
Head and Neck Injuries
Of all the injuries cheerleaders are at risk of, head and neck trauma can be the most serious.
Of all the injuries cheerleaders risk, head and neck trauma can be the most serious, causing such issues as memory loss, brain damage, paralysis and sometimes even death. With aerial stunts the chances of head or neck injury increase dramatically. Symptoms to watch for soon after a head injury include worsening headaches, nausea and sleepiness, irritability, confusion, dilated pupils, trouble walking or speaking, drainage of blood or fluid from ears or nose, vomiting, seizures and weakness or numbness in arms and legs. "If you get dropped or get in the wrong position and land on the head or neck, you can die or become paralyzed," says Dr. Harris. "More often you end up breaking something. But that's still pretty serious."
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