Cheerleaders Back Injuries

Back Injuries in Football Players and Cheerleaders Football and cheerleading rank among the highest in catastrophic injuries when compared to all sports (United States Sports Academy). A growing body of evidence shows that the increasingly popular world of cheerleading has become one of the most dangerous athletic sports among females, and football is one of the most violent contact sports. Although head and back injuries, as well as concussions associated with football have been well publicized, there is less public awareness about the injuries associated with cheerleading. Many football players and cheerleaders do not realize the impact that their sport has on their back. Being that I hope to become a Physical Therapist and work with athletes
There are several different causes of back pain such as the nerves being irritated from overuse or the back muscles being strained from not properly stretching. Surgery for back pain is only recommended when all other methods and treatments have failed. Surgery is also recommended when the back pain is so severe that a person cannot sleep or perform daily activities. Although back surgery can be a difficult choice for some people, the benefits outweigh the risks. Less pain comes with increased activity, better physical fitness, improved mood, and less need for pain medications. The type of back pain an individual has will depend on the type of pain and the cause of it. For example, a discectomy involves removing the damaged part of the disc through an incision made in the back. It is now possible for surgeons to carry out the procedure using a very small incision and a microscope or magnifying lenses to find the damaged disc (Liebenson). This minimizes the amount of trauma to the surrounding tissue, reduces the pain and discomfort in the affected area, and results in a smaller scar. Spinal fusion is the most common type of surgery for back patients. In a spinal fusion a surgeon joins spinal bones together, restricting motion between the bones of the spine. Fusion also limits the stretching of nerves. Another example is a laminectomy in which a surgeon removes parts of the bones or ligaments in the back (Liebenson). This surgery helps relieve pressure on spinal nerves that may be causing pain or weakness. During a foraminotomy, a surgeon cuts away bone at the sides of vertebrae to widen the space where nerve roots exit the spine. The enlarged space may relieve pressure on the nerves, thereby relieving pain. In artificial disc replacement, a surgeon removes a damaged spinal disc and inserts an artificial disc between the