Head impacts in university-level varsity cheerleading athletes: an exploratory study

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Neurology

Background:

• Non-contact, female-dominant sports like cheerleading are understudied regarding head kinematics and impacts.
• Existing research on head impacts is male-dominant, creating sex-based disparities in scientific literature.
• Understanding head impacts in cheerleading can improve knowledge of physiological effects, including concussions, in female athletes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the quantity and intensity of head impacts in mixed biological sex cheerleading.
• To analyze head impact data collected over four regular season practices.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-three university-level cheerleading athletes (17 females, 6 males) participated.
• Head impacts were monitored over four regular season practices.
• Data on impact quantity, linear acceleration, and rotational acceleration were collected.

Main Results:

• A total of 89 head impacts were recorded across four practices.
• Athletes sustained an average of 1.93 impacts per practice.
• Mean linear acceleration was 14.72 g; mean rotational acceleration was 804.71 rad/s².
• An estimated rate of 6.07 head impacts per hour of cheerleading activity was calculated.

Conclusions:

• Cheerleading athletes sustain numerous head impacts during practices.
• These frequent impacts place cheerleaders at risk for detrimental effects, including potential long-term neurological consequences.
• Further research is needed to address sex-based disparities and develop targeted protective strategies in cheerleading.