Pediatric Cheerleading Injuries Treated in Emergency Departments in the United States

• DOI: 10.1177/0009922817702938
• Publication Date: 2017-04-13T05:44:19Z
• Authors: Nada Naiyer; Thiphalak Chounth...; Gary A. Smith
• Keywords: Male; Risk; Adolescent; United States; 3. Good health; Hospitalization; 03 medical and health sciences; Age Distribution; 0302 clinical medicine; Child, Preschool; Head Injuries, Closed; Athletic Injuries; Humans; Accidental Falls; Female; Child; Emergency Service, Hospital; Brain Concussion

This study investigates the epidemiology of cheerleading injuries to children in the United States. Data were analyzed from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System for children 5 through 18 years of age treated in US emergency departments for cheerleading injuries from 1990 through 2012. An estimated 497 095 children ages 5 to 18 years were treated in US emergency departments for a cheerleading injury during the 23-year study period, averaging 21 613 injured children per year. From 1990 to 2012, the annual cheerleading injury rate increased significantly by 189.1%; and from 2001 to 2012, the annual rate of cheerleading-related concussion/closed head injury increased significantly by 290.9%. Falls were the most common mechanism of injury (29.4%) and were more likely to lead to hospitalization (relative risk = 2.47; 95% confidence interval = 1.67-3.68) compared with other injury mechanisms. The rising number and rate of pediatric cheerleading injuries underscore the need for increased efforts to prevent these injuries.