Cheerleading and Traumatic Brain Injury in NJ

Cheerleading and Traumatic Brain Injury

Who knew cheerleading could be so dangerous?

According to a study released last year by the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, 67 of the 103 fatal, disabling or serious injuries recorded among high school female athletes occurred in cheerleading. In some instances, cheerleading is more dangerous than football.

In another study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cheerleading has the second highest rate for concussions and traumatic brain injuries in high school sports, behind only football.

Cheerleading is way beyond pom poms and now includes dare devil-like aerial gymnastic stunts with a tower of synchronized limbs dancing high in the air. One misstep can cause impact with hard surfaces and no emergency plan in place.

When gone awry there is impact of collision, whiplash-like injuries, blurred vision, migraine headaches, prescription medication, concussions, unconsciousness, nausea, split ear drums, orthopedic injuries, memory loss, depression and worse death.

What a tragedy for a teenage girl to be in her prime only to be struck down by a preventable cheerleading traumatic brain injury accident.