- Feb 10, 2013
- 1,464
- 1,490
This was in the National Post today. Did anyone else see it??
Bring it on … to the ER: Cheerleading injuries tripled in Canada over last 20 years, study finds | National Post
I pulled up the study itself (Neck and Spine Injuries in Canadian Cheerleaders: An Increasing Trench in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery) and have some concerns about it, though the average newspaper reader isn't going to look that far into this other than to say "Cheer is dangerous!!" It's all Canadian content though, and I was really disappointed when in the actual study, they mention that only a handful of Provinces follow USASF or Provincial Safety Guidelines. I looked up some of the provinces that supposedly don't follow such rules, yet they're printed right into their rule books (BC for example, following ACCAA rules does require mats, coaching certification, etc.).
It also seems reasonable that injuries have increased in the last 20 years. 20 years ago, all-star cheer didn't really exist in Canada and really only happened at a school level. All-star has exploded in the last 15 years, so of course we're going to see more injuries. We have way more athletes involved than ever before.
Also, the actual study said that of all the cases sent to the hospital, 98.5% (consistent with a previous 2006 study - 98.7% there) were deemed to be minor injuries (sprains, strains, etc.). So it seem that the number of serious injuries hasn't gone up over the last 10 years.
This frustrates me so much that injuries seem to be the only thing that is talked about with this sport.
Bring it on … to the ER: Cheerleading injuries tripled in Canada over last 20 years, study finds | National Post
I pulled up the study itself (Neck and Spine Injuries in Canadian Cheerleaders: An Increasing Trench in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery) and have some concerns about it, though the average newspaper reader isn't going to look that far into this other than to say "Cheer is dangerous!!" It's all Canadian content though, and I was really disappointed when in the actual study, they mention that only a handful of Provinces follow USASF or Provincial Safety Guidelines. I looked up some of the provinces that supposedly don't follow such rules, yet they're printed right into their rule books (BC for example, following ACCAA rules does require mats, coaching certification, etc.).
It also seems reasonable that injuries have increased in the last 20 years. 20 years ago, all-star cheer didn't really exist in Canada and really only happened at a school level. All-star has exploded in the last 15 years, so of course we're going to see more injuries. We have way more athletes involved than ever before.
Also, the actual study said that of all the cases sent to the hospital, 98.5% (consistent with a previous 2006 study - 98.7% there) were deemed to be minor injuries (sprains, strains, etc.). So it seem that the number of serious injuries hasn't gone up over the last 10 years.
This frustrates me so much that injuries seem to be the only thing that is talked about with this sport.