Brain Injuries in Cheerleading
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Cheerleading isn't just something done on the sidelines anymore, it's become a fiercely competitive sport. Also, I have three daughters and have come to realize its an expensive and potentially dangerous sport. The number of injuries that arise from cheerleading is growing tremendously.
However, there is a serious problem with cheerleading not being recognized as a sport by many schools. As a result, coaches are not properly trained, and students may not have the proper facilities and equipment for practice. All these factors greatly increase the risk for injury.
A recent article on CNN outlines a study published in the journal Pediatrics. According to the study, the number of cheerleading injuries has doubled in the past 12 years. Although most of the injuries are leg, foot and ankle injuries, head injuries account for a number of them.
In fact, the reigning Miss Utah, Amy Davis, suffered a traumatic brain injury while performing a "basket toss," one of the most difficult cheerleading moves, during a practice at Weber State University. Her road to recovery was long and difficult. Because of her injury, she became a spokesperson for the Brain Injury Association of America.