With an increased attention on catastrophic injuries in the sport of competitive cheerleading due to the recent report from the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research (25th Annual Report, Mueller, F.O., & Cantu, R. C., August 19, 2008), there has been an increase in the amount of focused research to determine why the number of catastrophic injuries is so high in cheerleading as compared to other sports.
Mechanism of Catastrophic Injuries from Cheer
As the research unfolds and information is published, not only will the risk factors be known, but information can be brought forward to make the sport safer for the thousands of athletes that compete.
Research has shown that a majority of catastrophic injuries occur from falls from either basket toss maneuvers or from pyramids. This means that the athletes are falling from heights greater than their own height and at times from heights up to 12 – 15 feet.
With athletes being tossed into the air at significant heights, the surface they land on becomes a critical component to their safety. A number of surfaces are currently used by cheerleaders including spring floor, traditional foam floor, vinyl tile floor, carpet, concrete, asphalt, wrestling mats, dirt, rubberized track, artificial turf, grass, and wood floor (typical gym floor).
The purpose of a recent research project was to study the critical height (“an approximation of the fall height below which a life-threatening head impact injury would not be expected to occur”) for a surfacing material ( Shields, B.J. & Smith, G.A., Journal of Athletic Training, November, 2009). This study was undertaken because although playground surfaces have been studied, surfaces used by cheerleaders had not received much attention.
Critical Heights of Different Cheer Surfaces
Using the science of biomechanics (physics applied to motion), the researchers were able to determine the critical height for a number of surfaces that are typically used by cheerleaders. The results showed a range of critical heights including:
- concrete – 0.5 ft
- vinyl installed over concrete – 0.5 ft
- carpet – 1 ft
- asphalt – 1 ft
- rubberized track – 1.5 ft
- dry dirt – 2 ft
- dry grass, 2 inches tall – 3.5 ft
- artificial turf – 4 ft
- traditional foam floor – 4 ft
- wood gym floor – 4.5 ft
- dry grass, 4 inches tall – 4.5 ft
- landing mat on vinyl tile – 6.5 ft
- landing mat on foam floor – exceeds 10.5 ft
- spring floor – exceeds 11 ft
Only Two Surfaces are Safe for Falls Over 10 Feet
The results indicated that only two surfaces including the “landing mat on foam floor” and “spring floor” were surfaces that athletes could safely fall on and not be at risk for catastrophic injuries to the head after falling from heights that are typical of basket tosses and pyramids.
This study should instigate discussion that should change the basic rules for cheerleading safety. The current rules instruct cheerleaders to specifically perform basket stunts and multibase tosses on “grass, a mat, or rubberized track” (American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators 2007-2008 High School Safety Rules).
The results indicate that a fall from a height no greater than 1.5 feet on rubberized track could be enough to catastrophically injure an athlete, and that a fall on dry grass from a height of 3.5 feet could catastrophically injure an athlete. This means that any basket toss or pyramid performed on these surfaces could catastrophically injure an athlete.
These results might explain why there are so many catastrophic head and neck injuries in the sport of cheerleading. Athletes falling from basket tosses on to any surface other than a landing mat on foam floor or a spring floor are at risk for a serious injury.
Opportunity for Change in the Sport of Cheer
With knowledge comes the opportunity for change. According to this study, there are only two surfaces safe enough to handle falls from over 10 feet. But is the cheerleading industry willing to make the changes necessary to keep their athletes safe?
This data needs to get into the hands of the leaders of the cheerleading industry (American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators) to make the necessary changes at both the high school and college levels that will help make cheer a safer sport.
Terry Zeigler - Educating through writing with over twenty-five years of experience as a Kinesiology Professor and Certified Athletic Trainer.
Join the Conversation