- Jul 25, 2022
- 36
- 17
My cousin (15F) is a high school cheerleader who suffered a concussion at practice from an accident in a relatively simple stunt/pyramid (she is a top person/flyer). Her mom (my aunt) has asked me, because I am a cheerleading coach and she thinks I would have answers. I have only been coaching for a couple of years, however, and I have no medical training at all.
Basically, I was asked whether the cheerleader in question should continue to cheer the rest of the season, and perhaps in future years as well. They have been worried about the risk of repeat concussions and worse outcomes. (This is her first concussion; no loss of consciousness or memory loss was involved.) I am of the opinion that after completing Return to Play and being asymptomatic, she can continue cheering.
However, this brings up a good question: when IS it time to call it quits? How many concussions is too many? What if this was her second? Third? When would you be wary of continued cheerleading?
Basically, I was asked whether the cheerleader in question should continue to cheer the rest of the season, and perhaps in future years as well. They have been worried about the risk of repeat concussions and worse outcomes. (This is her first concussion; no loss of consciousness or memory loss was involved.) I am of the opinion that after completing Return to Play and being asymptomatic, she can continue cheering.
However, this brings up a good question: when IS it time to call it quits? How many concussions is too many? What if this was her second? Third? When would you be wary of continued cheerleading?