Injury Report

As cheerleading is getting more physically demanding compared to its difficulty when University of Minnesota cheerleaders performed, the rate of injuries is sky rocketing. According to a cheerleading article, over the past decade injuries within cheerleading have risen over 400% (Toporek). The popularity of the sport is increasing within high school, college and all star cheerleading teams. This whopping number derives from the increase in participants and difficulty of skills being performed. According to studies, “From 1990 to 2003, there was a 20 percent rise in the number of cheerleaders 6 or older, going from 3.0 million to 3.6 million, according to the AAP” (Toporek), 90% of which, being females (Mercer). 

The change in skill set has improved drastically: from basic jump combinations to dangerous basket tosses and complex tumbling passes. The American Assosiation of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators describes cheerleading’s’ specific attributes: “Today, cheerleading involves skills which require the strength of football, the grace of dance, and the agility of gymnastics” (AACCA). Even with the combination of required agilities from other sports, cheerleaders are often not offered access to qualified athletic trainers (Toporek). This is grave because safety is the most important aspect of a sport. Without proper exposure to injury treatments, cheerleading will continue to be associated with being hazardous. Some of the most common injuries include ankle sprains, and concussions; happening most commonly at practice while tumbling and stunting (Waters). A Journal for Nurses of the American Academy states that over 50% of high school cheerleading teams do not have a certified athletic trainer (Waters). If cheerleading were declared a sport, this would not be the case. What is a justified reason that cheerleaders should not be given access to trainers? Institutions should be jumping at the chance to improve the safety of their students.  

           Tid Bit: Being a UMass cheerleader, I am considered to be part of "Marketing" for athletics. I often feel bitter towards the athletic department, jealous of the access to Boyden (Athletic Training Facility separate from the hectic Recreation Center) that cheerleaders do not have. This year the cheerleading team got a new coach, who lucky for us, was desperate to help us have a name throughout the school. Starting with our safety, she set up a meeting with the head trainer at Boyden who official granted us access to the sports trainers. This is a major step for UMass Cheerleading towards becoming a safer activity and potentially aiming towards being a sport rather than a marketing tool. It is also comforting knowing that the cheerleading team has a crew helping us stay healthy. 

  True Story: Kali Wald,18, suffers from short term memory loss due to a cheerleading related injury. In 2011, Kali was dropped from her flier position twice; once one her upper back and neck, and the second time directly on her head. As serious of a fall that she had, it is harrowing to know that this injury potentially could have been prevented from creating permanemt damage. After the first fall, Dave, Kali's father, confirmed that the coach was unaware of the graveness of Kali's injury, allowing her to do more stunting which ultimately resulted in Kali being dropped on her head. If cheerleading coaches were required to have specific attributes and qualifications, it is likely that they would have been able to see symptoms in Kali that she needed immediate medical attention. Without the second fall, Kali hypothetically could have had a full recovery. Kali still has concussion symptoms and cannot lead a regular day at school due to head aches and dizziness (Cheerleading).   

Take A Stance: Too cheerleaders who have been injured, much like Kali, it make seem as though their stories have been left in the dust. Why wouldn't officials take initiative after such trauma? Well, there is hope: a Doctors Group, the American Academy of Pediatrics, is enforcing cheerleading regulations for the safety of the participants (Doctors). 

(Doctors)