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Cheerleader Injuries

Cheerleading injuries have doubled in the last 13 years and that foot and ankle injuries account for more than a third of them.

Better athletic training programs for girls who participate in this very competitive sport can prevent injuries per thee American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Most of the foot and ankle injuries treated occur because girls aren't conditioned properly for the rigorous tumbling and gymnastics that have become a major element of cheerleading.

Many competitive cheerleaders wear close fitting shoes that match their uniforms but aren't roomy enough to accommodate a cushioned insert or custom orthotic. Routines can place tremendous stress on the feet and ankles. Without good preseason muscle strengthening and training and well constructed athletic shoes, most teenage girls can't endure the weight bearing and pounding throughout the season.

According to ACFAS, children and adolescents who participate in athletic activities several days a week are susceptible to overuse injuries to the feet and ankles. As a result the year-round action takes a toll on young legs, especially if the girls or boys aren't trained properly. Muscle fatigue from overuse is responsible for a significant number of youth sports injuries, and that includes cheerleaders.

Michelle Butterworth, DPM, FACFAS has a unique perspective on cheerleading as a foot and ankle surgeon in Kingstree, SC and wife of a high school football coach. She's been summoned from the stands several times to examine injured cheerleaders. "Nasty ankle sprains are very common, especially from landing on the uneven surfaces of football fields," said Butterworth. "The propensity for injury, however, is greatest if the leg muscles are weak. Unfortunately, most cheerleading coaches aren't trained properly to deal with or prevent injuries. Many think they have it covered by having the team perform one exercise for each muscle group."

Sdditionally, peer pressure among cheerleaders to look good and stay slim also heightens injury from weak bones caused by poor nutritional habits, according to Judge. "Excessive dieting is a problem in this sport," she said. "Weak bones are susceptible to stress fractures from all the jumping and pounding."

What should parents do if their child wants to be a cheerleader?
Experts advise daily stretching andd squatting exercises to strengthen their hamstrings, lower legs and Achilles tendons.

Young athletes with a history of ankle sprains should be checked by a foot and ankle surgeon for weakness before being cleared for competition. According to FootPhysicans.com, the ACFAS consumer website, it's imperative that an ankle injury be promptly evaluated and diagnosed to determine the extent of damage. Walking on an injured ankle can cause further trauma and long-term complications.