The facts behind repetitive-stress injuries and how your athletes can prevent them
Cheer Biz News June/July 2010
By Eric Skarda, PT, DPT, CSCS
Q: What’s tennis elbow and why do cheerleaders develop it?
A: Tennis elbow is often a repetitive-stress injury to the common extensor tendon that overlies the lateral portion of the elbow. Cheerleaders likely develop it due to the extreme wrist extension that comes from making strong motions and the constant contraction required to hold arms in that position.
Q: What can cheerleaders do to prevent tennis elbow?
A: Other than modifying the mechanics used to perform these manuevers, there’s not much that can be done in the way of prevention. There may be some benefit to using a wrist cock-up splint (a specially fabricated splint that holds the wrist in a slightly extended position) that will take some of the strain off the extensor group. However, the splint can also make the hand less flexible and unable to adjust to the balance needs of the top girl.
Q: What can cheerleaders do to treat tennis elbow?
A: Cross-friction massage (rubbing horizontally across the lateral portion of the elbow with firm pressure) with the wrist flexed (palm down) has been shown to be beneficial. Some braces put pressure on the extensor group and may have the effect of placing the stress more in the muscle belly rather than on the tendonous insertion, but this hasn’t been proven. Stretching the extensor group and progressive resistive exercises are all common physical therapy treatments for tennis elbow.
Q: What exactly are shin splints?
A: Shin splints is a generic term used to describe several different injuries. Medial tibial stress syndrome is the most common dysfunction referred to as “shin splints.” This involves an inflammation and irritation of the muscle and tendon that runs along the border of the tibia (the inner bone of the lower leg). This can be caused by pes planus (flat foot) or stress fractures, which are another common injury in young women. These are only a few of the dysfunctions termed shin splints. To properly diagnose your specific injury, you should always visit your doctor or team trainer.
Q: What can cheerleaders do to treat shin splints?
A: Most times, simple arch supports would be sufficient. Athletes with stress fractures need to be placed in a boot for several weeks to allow the reaction to subside and the bone to heal. In the unlikely case of an anterior tibial compartment injury, cross-friction massage to the irritated muscle in a stretched position (similar to the treatment for tennis elbow) could be helpful.
Q: To what other common overuse injuries are cheerleaders prone?
A: In my experience, hip disorders such as bursitis may be common. This is an inflammation of the water-filled sac that helps to cushion tendons as they slide over bony prominences. The iliopsoas, bursa, or hip flexor, in the front of the hip is most likely. Symptoms would include a “snapping” in the hip, pain when bringing the knee up to the chest and possibly some numbness and tingling down the front of the leg because of compression of the femoral triangle (the area around the pubic region that contains the femoral artery, vein and nerve). Keeping the hips well-stretched and strong is typically enough as a preventive measure.
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