Cheerleading in the United States has become a competitive sport. With the increase in complexity of stunts, the injury rate among cheerleaders has increased significantly.
Concussions are being seen more and more in competitive cheerleading.
Traumatic injuries from falling can lead to injuries of both the upper and lower extremity. Upper extremity injuries include shoulder separations and dislocations, elbow sprains and fractures and injuries to the wrist and hand. Lower extremity injuries include knee ligament injuries such as anterior cruciate (Acl) and medial collateral (Mcl) ligament injuries as well as patella dislocations and meniscus tears. Injuries to the ankle and foot including sprains and fractures are quite common.
Overuse injuries including hip, knee, ankle tendonitis as well as low back pain syndromes including low back strains, disc problems, and spondylolysis(stress fractures) are often seen in competitive cheerleaders.
Common Cheerleading Injuries
Concussions
Shoulder: Ac separations | Instability | Clavicle fractures
Knee: Patella dislocations | Patella femoral pain, patella tendonitis | Acl, Mcl tears | Meniscus tears
Hip: Labral tears | Quadriceps, hamstring, groin strains | Iliotibial band tendonitis
Ankle: Achilles tendonitis | Sprains | Fractures
Back: Strains | Herniated discs | Spondylolysis (stress fractures)