Preventing & Treating Cheerleading Injuries (Part 2)
Cheerleading can builds important skill in young people – including teamwork and a lifelong passion for fitness. But it can also result in injuries from mild to quite serious. In fact, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that cheerleading injuries result in more than 15,000 emergency room visits every year.
As experienced hand doctors, we often see some of the most common cheerleader injuries: broken or dislocated wrists, fingers, elbows & shoulders. In this two part article we discuss what parents can do to prevent and manage their child’s cheerleading injuries.
CLICK HERE for PART 1 of Preventing & Treating Cheerleader Injuries
How to Treat Cheerleading Injuries
As experienced hand doctors, one of the most common cheerleading injuries we see is a wrist sprain or strain.
For treatment of a wrist (or ankle) sprain or strain, parents and coaches should remember to follow the RICE rule.
1. Rest the injured body part for at least 24 hours
2. Ice the injured area once an hour for 10 to 20 minutes during the first four hours after injury. After that, ice the area four times a day for 10 to 20 minutes for the next two days.
3. Compress the injury with an elastic bandage for 48 hours. The bandage should be snug but not tight or restricting blood flow or feeling.
4. Elevate the injured wrist or ankle for at least 24 hours.
However, if you suspect a broken bone, dislocated limb or the possibility of a head or neck injury, immediate medical treatment is necessary. These injuries can result in lifelong, permanent damage to your child if not treated immediately.
What You Parents Can do to Prevent Cheerleading Injuries
Working hand in hand with coaches and other parents to ensure that the above best practices are followed can help ensure that cheerleading injuries (though not completely avoidable) are kept to a minimum.
Make sure that your school’s cheerleading programs follows the recognized and proven standards set by the AACCA (American Association of Cheerleading Coaches & Administrators) and other cheer organizations, with regard to safety programs and stunt limitations.
Whenever possible, mandate that your schools cheerleading coaches obtain AACCA Spirit Safety Certification through the NFHS.
Top Bloomfield Hills Hand Doctor
If your child is suffering from any cheerleading injury or pain in their fingers, wrist, elbow or arm, contact board certified Bloomfield Hills hand doctor, Dr. Rehman for a comprehensive evaluation and consultation. As with most medical conditions, early detection, awareness, and a prevention or treatment plan is the most effective way to combat the effects of cheerleading injuries.
Doctor Rehman will assess your individual situation, and prescribe the treatments that are best for your child’s condition – to ensure that they can get back to cheerleading as quickly as possible, without any longterm or permanent effects.
