Chiropractic and Prep Cheerleading: ‘2-4-6-8, Who Do We …’

By Donna Stark

Some people think cheerleading is as old as sport itself, and arguably, they aren’t wrong. But the cheerleading we see today is definitely not what the cheerleading of years past has been. What started long ago as grunts of enthusiasm and synchronized clapping in the stands has gradually evolved into one of the most athletic events in the world.

As a result of that transformation, cheerleaders (both female and male) are now considered some of the best athletes around -- and they have the skills to prove it!

Cheerleading as a Sport

To this day, cheerleading is not recognized as a sport under Title IX, but that designation doesn’t need to occur for cheerleaders to be considered supreme athletes. The high school and competitive cheerleaders of today do much more than just the basic cartwheels and simple dance routines from years past. Complex tumbling passes, coordinated dance routines, and gravity-defying stunts are now the norm, and all of those skills require stamina, strength, balance, and muscular endurance.

But before we dive any deeper into the athleticism involved in cheer (and thereby, the risks that are involved too), we must first distinguish the two main styles of cheerleading from each other.

Sideline Cheering

Sideline cheering typically revolves around football and basketball, and is what many of us see at the high school, university, and professional levels. Sideline cheerleaders are the ones who bring “spirit” to the game with props, chants, and cheers, and who engage with fans while performing jumps, stunts, and dance routines between quarters and during the game’s timeouts and halftime.

Competitive Cheering

In contrast to sideline cheering, competitive cheerleaders aren’t cheering for a team from the sidelines. They are, in fact, their own team. These cheerleaders spend the entire year perfecting high-energy, adrenaline-soaked performances that are not only extremely athletic, but also carry a heightened risk for serious injuries. While sideline cheerleading teams do perform stunts, they typically are not as difficult or as skilled as the ones performed by competitive cheerleaders. In other words, competitive cheer has a completely different rulebook to abide by. These teams compete at major competitions across the country, and the atmosphere in which their performances are showcased is intense and demanding. For many people, it’s easier to understand why serious athleticism is required in competitive cheer when they learn that one of the positions on the team is actually called a “flyer.”

What Injuries Are Cheerleaders Susceptible To?

Research has found that next to football players, cheerleaders have the highest rate of catastrophic injuries in both high school and college athletic programs. But the bad news doesn’t stop there. These injuries can be found in competitive cheer programs across the nation too. Here are some of the most prevalent injuries cheerleaders of all skill levels must contend with.

• Stress fractures - Stress fractures in the hands, wrists, shoulders, and legs are often caused by repetitive impact and overuse.
• Bone fractures - Every bone in the body (including the spine) is at risk of breaking when stunts and tumbling passes go terribly wrong. If surgery is required after one of the incidences, the possibility of continuing in the sport could be in jeopardy.
• Strains and sprains - These types of injuries generally occur in the ankles, knees, hips, groin, wrists, elbows, and lower back. Cheerleaders are particularly susceptible to strains and sprains due to all the jumping, throwing, landing, and pivoting involved in cheer.
• Head injuries - Concussions account for about one-third of all cheer-related injuries. They are typically caused by falls to the ground or strikes to the head (from an elbow or foot of a teammate while being thrown in the air).
• Facial injuries - Like head injuries, facial injuries are mostly caused by a teammate’s hand, elbow, or foot hitting the face during tumbling passes and stunts.

Regardless of age, skill level, or gender, all cheerleaders and coaches need to be proactive in the prevention of injuries. USA Cheer, the governing body for cheerleading in the United States, leads the way in establishing guidelines for preventing injuries and offers plenty of safety tips online.

Can Chiropractic Care Benefit Cheerleaders?

Cheerleaders are athletes who push their bodies to the limit during both training and performances. They are bound to either feel some discomfort or sustain an injury during the course of their sport, which is why chiropractic care should always be considered. Here are just a few of the benefits routine chiropractic care can deliver.

• Muscle tension - Chiropractic care can help ease muscle tension, making muscles more flexible and less prone to injury
• Range of motion - By helping to improve range of motion, chiropractic care may increase the level of safety during tumbling and stunt work
• Balance and stability - Regular chiropractic adjustments can help strengthen balance and improve stability and coordination, all of which are critical during landings and stunt work
• Joint function - Chiropractors routinely correct alignment issues and joint dysfunction, which can help reduce pain and the risk of serious injury
• Healing and recovery - Chiropractic care may speed the healing and recovery process of injuries by alleviating pain, reducing inflammation, and increasing circulation

By consistently seeking out the best sports medicine physicians, and establishing routine chiropractic care, cheerleaders of all ages and skill levels can look forward to sustained and long-term health throughout their cheering careers.

Where to Watch the Best of the Best

If you are intrigued about cheerleading and wondering where you can catch a performance to see what all the hype is about, be sure to check out any of the national high school and college cheer championships online. There, you will be able to see the best of the best schools, colleges, and universities compete against one another. Watch the cheer teams from Bullitt East High School of Kentucky and Eaglecrest High School of Colorado showcase their skills before turning your attention to the teams from the University of Central Florida and Texas Tech University. You’ll be amazed at what you see, and in no time at all, you may even be able to identify which cheerleader is the flyer.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this page are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of chiropractic care, exercise and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.