What is the Real Reason Behind Cheer-Related Injuries?

According to a recent study in 2012, cheer-leading is the leading cause of catastrophic sports injuries to females, accounting  for over 65% percent in the past twenty-five years. Also between 1982 and 2007, there was a reported 103 fatal or disabling injuries among female high school students, with 67 of those injuries being in cheer.

A handful of these devastating injuries occur because of unskilled coaches, but the leading cause is due to unreformed rules. It was not until 2011 that the AACCA and USA Cheer came together to make reforms to the AACCA's National Cheerleading Safety Handbook. The picture above is of Selby, a high school cheer leader who suffered a concussion while performing a "double down". A double down is a very technical and complicated stunt in which the flyer completes two complete rotations in the air before landing in the arms of his/her teammates. Unfortunately, Shelby was not as lucky and fell on her head. Because her coaches handbook was not up to date and the rules inside were not adequate, she was told to go home and rest. Later, she received another concussion which worsened her previous symptoms. "She was sensitive to noise and light and experienced fainting spells,seizures, anxiety, depression, and excessive drowsiness. Four weeks later Shelby was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome. Because her symptoms were overlooked by her coach as well as physicians, Shelby's parents brought this matter to the attention of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In July 2011 the CDC, AACCA, and USA Cheer came up with the "Heads Up" campaign. "Heads Up" was created to teach parents, coaches, and cheerleaders, as well as other athletes how to recognize the symptoms of a concussion and how to prevent concussions. Although Shelby can never cheer again, she will always be known for her help in educating others so the same thing will not happen to them.
http://www.connectwithkids.com/tipsheet/2002/101_dec04/cheer.h
http://www.livescience.com/2775-girls-dangerous-sport-cheerleading.html
 http://www.headsupparents.org/pdfs/Shelby_Story-a.pdf