The Functional Movement Screen ( Fms )

Suddenly I was in my school’s health center, surrounded by football players, each more muscular and coordinated than I, and each with a much more plausible reason for their injury. The observation left me smiling.

Unlike any another high school sport cheerleading is a year round sport not including how much we practice during the summer. Every time we throw up a stunt, pyramid, or tumbling sequence we are risking everything. We are risking Strains and sprains account for more than half of all cheerleading injuries. Of these, ankle sprains are the most common, and that is followed by strains or sprains of the neck, lower back, knee and wrist. Also Back injuries: when we are throwing up Stunts and basket tosses like lifting other cheerleaders above our head, tumbling and dismounting while twisting and rotating can all place significant stress on the lower back, which can lead to back pain. A more serious injury that can occur over time is a stress fracture to the vertebra, one of the bones that make up the spinal column of our body. If the stress fracture occurs on both sides of the vertebrae, the bone can become weakened and

“The analysis of movement provides an athlete with optimal development as well as minimising the risk of developing injuries through the incorrect execution of a movement” (Ackland, Elliott & Bloomfield, 2009, p 301).

Participants in this study were healthy men and women ages 18-24. There were several criterions the participants had to meet before partaking in the study. Each individual had to successfully barbell back squat their own body weight for 1 repetition. Also participants were constantly observed by strength and conditioning coaches to ensure proper technique was applied to the barbell back squat. Lastly participants must have previously

“Modern cheerleading has evolved into a sport that is more akin to mixed martial arts, where legs and arms are constantly flailing and at any moment a participant is risking a violent shot to the head” (Cheerleading- the Forgotten Sport).

Through November 2013-May 2014, scientists collected 25 males (12 football players, 13 non-players) that participated in this experiment. Both of these groups conducted activities and drills through three different sprint starting positions (2-, 3-, and 4-point.) After all the tests, it was declared that the 4-point starting stance is the most risky for football players, due to the position of the head, and the player’s vision of the field being decreased. However, the 2 point stance is the safest due to the better head location which allows better field of vision when participating in football. It was also concluded that regardless of football experience, the results of all the stances remained the same regardless of football or non-football (Bonnechere et al, 2014).

Through the use of self-reporting systems, athlete trainers utilize several instruments to identify any present postconcussion signs and

Just like in sports such as football, cheerleaders are constantly at risk of getting injured (Fernandez, Eric). When cheerleaders stunt their is a big risk of the flyer being dropped, if the flyer is dropped she could break something, get a concussion or even become paralyzed. Patty, a seventeen year old, was paralyzed after sustaining a brain injury while cheering for her high school football team. She hit her chest and her heart stopped (Dorning, Anne-Marie). The risk of injury in cheering is very serious, it can happen in high school or competitive

Sampson explains,”Its an adrenaline sport. It’s rough.” All star cheerleaders often say what they do resembles more conventionally male dominated sports like football or hockey. “If something goes wrong, someone could end up in the hospital.” An allstar cheerleader got injured and the medical assistance explained to her “Exercise, Ice and Alot of advil. Do everything you can to keep it stable” Also explaining the regimen that any sore armed pitcher or gimpy-kneed offensive lineman might use. Another injury occurred at one competition, Gryskiewicz said saw a male cheerleader tear his bicep straight off the bone. The muscle had completely rolled up his armpit like a window shade. All these facts prove that competitive cheer is just as dangerous and risky as any

Many have seen her. Many know her. But who is the American cheerleader? Is she a blond haired, blue eyed sex symbol? Is she a drug-addicted girl with no brains and even fewer moral values? Maybe she is just your average, pretty, girl-next-door with a loud voice and lots of spirit. What is clearly true is that cheerleading and cheerleaders have evolved greatly over a century-long history. What started as one bold college student has turned into an activity with over 3 million participants (Brady 1); one that is backed by a $150 million industry (Williams 2). Modern cheerleading has come a long way from its historic roots, but large differences still exist between the iconic cheerleader, the stereotypical cheerleader, and the truth.

Over the years, stunts have become very difficult. Pediatrics in 2006 said that 52.4% of injuries were sprains and strains and 16.4% were fractures (girls'). In 2008, there were 30,000 cheer related emergency room visits according to Consumer Product Safety Commission (most). Studies from 2009 show 96% injuries were caused by stunting (cheerleading). Through the time frame of 2010-2011, there were 1,579 concussions caused by cheer (cheerleading). Some stunting injuries even go as far as paralysis like those of Patty Phommanyvong

Unlike football players we go out onto to the mat without any padding or protection. Football players use shoulders pads, knee pads, helmets, and much more safety equipment. Every time a cheerleader goes out to perform their mind is not only focused on hitting the routine but, also wondering what might happen to them. They know that within the next 2 minutes and 30 seconds they can walk off the mat with a smile on their face or with an injury. Football players do also get hurt but, when they do, they have protection, unlike cheerleaders. The National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research at the University of North Carolina reports that 65.2% of all catastrophic injuries in youth sports occur in competitive cheerleading. Football players lift a 15 ounce ball, whereas we cheerleaders lift human beings. We throw, catch, and lift mortals. Not only do we work just as hard or even more than football players but, we also aim for the same objective. In all sports, you clearly want to win. Winning makes everyone feel confident and makes them work harder to accomplish this. Not only does cheerleading require physical skill and talent but, it also requires dedication and

Physical and mental strength plays a major role in a football player’s life. Football is a twelve month process, which consists of off- season (six months), in -season (five months), and the Transition (one month). During off-season the football player’s main goal is gaining strength, size, and much power, in-season they continue to practice and work on maintaining the gains in strength during the off-season, and the transition is when they rest and recuperate their body from the physical exercise. Football players are constantly bumped and knocked down during practices

When people say that cheerleading is not a sport they fail to realize that “the numbers translate into a rate of 2.68 catastrophic injuries for every 100,000 female high school cheerleaders, compared with 1.96 injuries per 100,000 for high school boys football over the same period.”(Kevin Voigt) Tumbling is one of the main causes of all these injuries. When cheerleaders flip through the air it may look impressive, but it is extremely difficult. To understand the physics of tumbling, we look towards projectile motion, gravity, and force.

Jackson, A.W., Baker, A.A. (1986). The Relationship of the Sit and Reach Test to Criterion Measures of Hamstring and Back Flexibility in Young Females. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 57 (3), 183-186.