Here's whatever i managed to note down from Bangkok University Workshop's cheerleading injuries talk. :p

Cheerleading injuries!

Injury statistics in cheerleading
-sprains/strains 52.4%
-soft tissue injuries 18.4%
-fractures/dislocations 16.4%

Acute injuries
-direct blow
-contact/no contact
-sprain
-muscle tear
-symptoms: traumatic history, pain, swelling, discoloration, deformity.

Head and neck injuries
-concussion
-whiplash
-fall from height
-fracture of cervical spine vertebra
-neck pain, headache, dizziness, loss of sensation
-immediate medical attention
-cervical collar/stabilisation

Shoulder injuries
-shoulder dislocation (fall on the outstretch hand, pain, deformity)
-requires medical attention (A&E, x-ray, reduction/sling, risk of recurrent dislocations)

Hand and wrist injuries
-mechanism: contact
-getting hit directly
-catching someone(flyer) in an awkward position
-falling and landing in an awkward position
-improper form during cartwheels, handstands and flips
-symptoms and signs: pain, swelling, deformity
-wrist bone, scaphoid fracture (cast or surgery)
-digits, thumb dislocation
-tendon rupture

Lower back injuries
-muscle strain
-ligament strain
-vertebral fracture
-prolapsed(slipped) disc

Lumbar strain/sprain
-sudden movements/twistingd
-repetitive flips, cartwheels
-improper techniques when lifting or throwing
-muscle fibre stretched or torn --> spasms

Acute knee injuries
-ligament, ACK, MCL
-meniscus
-kneecap(patellar) dislocation
-account for 60% of cheerleading injuries
-during high skill tumbling activities --> up to 8 to 14 times body weight

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)
-occur when bones of the leg twist in opposite directions under full body weight
-important stabiliser of the knee
-mechanism: contact/non-contact
-symptoms
-require early evaluation
-treatment: conservative/surgical

Ankle sprains
-mechanism
-symptoms
-potential sites of injuries include ligament, tendon, bone, cartilage
-lateral ankle sprains has 3 grades
-ankle sprains rehabilitation exercise include resisted ankle inversion, resisted ankle eversion, heel rause, step-up, balance and reach exercises

Management of acute injuries
(RICE)
-rest, stop activity
-ice, crushed ice in damp cloth, 20 min every 2h for next 2-3 days
-compression, apply firm wide compression bandage covering area
-elevation

Return to sport
-rehab in phases
-soft tissue response to injury (acute phase, repair, remodeling)
-prevention of injury (safe falling posture, protect head/spine, muscle strengthening)
-no pain
-no swelling
-normal range of motion
-restoration of strength and balance

Overuse injuries
-training
-equipment
-flexibility
-strength
-symptoms: no trauma, gradual onset, repetitive activity, progress of pain
-common conditions include wrist, low back injuries, knee, achilles tendinitis

Wrist, Dorsal Impingement Syndrome
-chronic inflammation, cartilage damage, pain over back of wrist
-subsides by end of routine

Lower back injuries
-Spondylolysis/Pars fracture
-repetitive back extension, backward bending
-treatment: healing, relative rest 6 weeks, avoid hyper extension, high impact activities

Jumper's knee
-inflammation of the patellar tendon, repetitive microtrauma and microtear
-treatments: rest, reduce activity, taping
-exercise: resisted terminal knee extension, decline eccentric squats, knee stabilization

Other important knee conditions
-knee bending, squatting
-pain at the knee
-biomechanical faults leading to knee mal-alignment

Treatments of overuse injuries
-relative rest
-treat inflammation/symptoms
-correct underlying cause of injury
-seek medical attention if symptoms are present with daily activities

Preventing overuse injuries
-proper training techniques
-strength, correct muscular imbalances
-flexibility
-gradual progress
-don't do too much, too soon
-endurance and balance
-core, trunk, shoulder, knee and ankle
-stretching program
-dynamic/static
-warm up

*The End*