Women and Sports in the United States: A Documentary Reader

CATASTROPHIC INJURIES IN FEMALE ATHLETES

y CATASTROPHIC INJURIES IN FEMALE ATHLETES Cheerleading Leads the List Robert C. Cantu, M.D., and Frederick O. Mueller, Ph.D. From 1982 through 1997, 60 direct fatalities and catastrophic injuries and 25 indirect fatalities occurred among high school and college female athletes, including cheerleaders (table A). Cheerleading, in fact, accounted for 34 (57 percent) of the direct fatalities and catastrophic injuries. A major factor in these injuries was the change in cheerleading activity, which now involves gymnastic-type stunts such as front and back flips, dives from mini-trampolines, and pyramid building. Many state high school associations have responded to these changes and the increase in injuries by banning stunts such as pyramid building and the tossing of cheerleaders. Others have designated cheerleading as a sport. The American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors implemented a Safety Certification Program, which has certified over 500 coaches and been adopted by some states and some college conferences. Safety initiatives have resulted in a number of recommendations, including the following: • Coaches should supervise all practices and be safety certified • Cheerleaders should have a preparticipation exam, be trained in gymnastics , spotting, and conditioning, and participate only in stunts that they have mastered • Stunts should be limited; e.g., pyramids should be limited to two levels and performed on mats • Emergency procedures should be written and available • Cheerleaders who have signs of head trauma should receive immediate medical attention and return to cheerleading only with permission from a physician Competing Bodies 129 Excerpted from Robert C. Cantu, M.D., and Frederick O. Mueller, Ph.D., “Fatalities and Catastrophic Injuries in High School and College Sports, 1982–1997: Lessons for Improving Safety,” The Physician and Sportsmedicine 27:8 (August 1999). Table 1 Fatalities and Catastrophic and Serious Injuries in US Female Student Athletes, 1982–1997 Direct Fatalitiesa and Catastrophic Injuriesb Indirect Fatalitiesc High School Cheerleading 18 Basketball 8 Gymnastics 9 Swimming 5 Track 3 Track 4 Swimming 2 Cheerleading 3 Basketball 2 Soccer 1 Softball 2 Cross Country 1 Field Hockey 2 Volleyball 1 Volleyball 1 Total 39 23 College Cheerleading 16 Tennis 1 Gymnastics 2 Basketball 1 Field Hockey 1 Downhill Skiing 1 Lacrosse 1 Total 21 2 a Caused by performing the activities of a sport. b Resulting in transient or permanent severe functional spinal cord disability. c Caused by systemic failure as a result of exertion while participating in a sport. ...