Expert: Chris - 2/4/2010

Question
Madam,Sir:
Hello!  I am Dina Regina Asuncion, a 3rd year Mass Communication student from Far Eastern University in Philippines. I just want to ask some questions about cheer leading accidents and its traumatic effect. Hope you can answer some of my questions.
1.Do you agree that cheering is dangerous?
2.Do you have any patient who had a trauma because of cheer leading?
3.What are the ways you do to heal a person who had a traumatic experience in cheer leading?
4.What do you think are the possible after effects of accidents on a cheerleader psychologically?
5.What are the mental illnesses they get they will possibly get after the accident?
6.How long is the healing process of a cheerleader who has been traumatized?
7.In your opinion, why do students wants to join cheer leading?
8.What are your advices to help a cheerleader regain his/her health?
9.Why do their parents allow their son/daughter to join cheer leading?
10.After knowing cheer leading and its negative side, do you still suggest joining in cheer leading?
Thank you!

Noted:
Dina Regina Asuncion

Answer
1. It's no more dangerous than any other sport. There are more injuries, but it is very often a full-year sport as opposed to just one season.

2. Nothing serious-a broken leg once, a mild concussion, pulled muscles etc.

3. Healing someone after a traumatic experience (I'm assuming you mean mentally not physically) is different for every cheerleader. Some are ready to try the skill again right away, and other never want to again. In the second scenario you need to work on the basics again first and get them comfortable all over again. It's necessary to go through the entire progression again before trying the skill. Identifying how the trauma occurred is also important. Was it an accident, or did someone make a technical mistake?

4. Some cheerleaders are afraid to work on that same skill again. Some of them become less afraid because they feel that the worst scenario has already happened to them. Some injured cheerleaders are so anxious to get back into the sport after an injury that they aren't afraid at all.

5. Anxiety...possibly the need to feel they must do everything perfectly to avoid injury. I wouldn't say they get mental illnesses from a trauma. They may be afraid and anxious, but unless there's extensive medical brain damage there is rarely a mental illness.

6. Again, this depends on the athlete. Some are ready right away while others take months or years.

7. It's a time to hang out with others their age. There's an adrenaline rush with competing. It's a lot of fun to achieve a new skill. Learning the routine and the dances can be really fun for someone who is interested in it. That's why I do it...It's really fun and after you win once it's hard to just stop. You want to win again.

8. First, follow all medical advice on recovery. When the injury is resolved, work through the natural progression and identify what caused the problem.

9. Cheerleading teaches social skills, discipline, teamwork, leadership, sportsmanship, and multiple other important life skills. It's a form of exercise and keeps kids busy so they don't get into trouble. Parents allow them to join cheerleading for the same reasons parents allow their kid to join football or soccer.

10. If the kid is interested, then absolutely cheerleading is a good idea. As long as the coach is certified and the team is practicing in a safe environment, cheerleading can be a great creative outlet and teaches many important life skills. Obviously there is always a chance of having an accident, but there's also a chance you could get hit by a car walking to school. It's part of life, but cheerleading is about more than just the stunts. It can teach someone so much about hard work.