Catastrophic Cheerleading Injuries

• Published in: The American journal of sports medicine Vol. 31; no. 6; pp. 881 - 888
• Main Authors: Boden, Barry P., Tacchetti, Robin, Mueller, Frederick O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine 01-11-2003; SAGE Publications; Sage Publications, Inc; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Athletic Injuries - epidemiology; Biological and medical sciences; Catastrophic Illness - epidemiology; Cheerleaders; Cheerleading; Craniocerebral Trauma - epidemiology; Female; Fractures; Humans; Injuries; Male; Medical sciences; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Skull Fractures - epidemiology; Spinal Injuries - epidemiology; Sport (general aspects); Sports injuries; Sports medicine; Stunts & stunt performers; Trauma Severity Indices; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; United States - epidemiology; Women athletes; United States; North America; America; Human; Sport; Accident; Athlete; Injury; Risk factor
• ISSN: 0363-5465; 1552-3365
• DOI: 10.1177/03635465030310062501

Background: There are few epidemiologic studies of cheerleading injuries.
Purpose: To develop a profile of catastrophic injuries in cheerleading and to describe relevant risk factors.
Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.
Methods: We reviewed 29 of 39 incidents of cheerleading injuries reported to the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research
from 1982 to 2002.
Results: Twenty-seven of the injured cheerleaders were women. There were 1.95 direct catastrophic injuries per year or 0.6 injuries
per 100,000 participants. The rate of injuries among college cheerleaders was five times that of high school participants.
The most common stunts performed at the time of injury were a pyramid (9) or a basket toss (8). Catastrophic injuries included
17 severe head injuries, resulting in 13 skull fractures and 2 deaths; 8 cervical fractures or major ligament injuries; 3
spinal cord contusions; and 1 concomitant head injury and cervical fracture.
Conclusions: Suggestions for reducing catastrophic injuries in cheerleaders include enhancing the number and training of spotters, mandating
floor mats for complex stunts, restricting complex stunts when surfaces are wet, and encouraging safety certification of coaches.
Pyramids and basket tosses should be limited to experienced cheerleaders who have mastered all other skills and should be
performed with spotters and landing mats.