All-Star Cheerleading And Scoliosis

[ceanz-victoria]

Something I have always wondered is if stretching just one leg/side of your back can cause scoliosis. From doing a bit of research, scoliosis is believed to be caused by genetics or other unknown factors, and I think stretching can be one of these. In the past year, I have seen around 5 cheerleaders diagnosed with scoliosis, all flyers. It makes me wonder if it's from always pulling their scorpions etc on just the one leg, and thus only stretching half their back.

The reason I'm so worried about it is because although I am a base, I started stretching my scorpion about a year ago on just the one leg, before I knew what scoliosis was. After about 6 months, I found out about the importance of stretching both sides. I do now, but ever since I started stretching my scorp, I tumble crooked and my back is uneven. It doesn't hurt, but it's worrying.

Do you think cheerleading can be a cause of scoliosis when things are done incorrectly?

 

[Oxx3rinxxO]

I would stretch my scorpion and scale on only one leg, but do both my heel stretches on both legs (when I was a flyer) and I do have mild scoliosis. But i don't know if that was the cause....I did a twist from an extension frosh year and my back's knee went into my back pretty hard, then the following week doing the same thing no one caught me. Ever since then I've had very bad back pain and I'm a junior now still cheering.

I forgot to mention I was a flyer frosh and last year, but this year I'm a base.

 

[TheUltimateFan]

Something I have always wondered is if stretching just one leg/side of your back can cause scoliosis. From doing a bit of research, scoliosis is believed to be caused by genetics or other unknown factors, and I think stretching can be one of these. In the past year, I have seen around 5 cheerleaders diagnosed with scoliosis, all flyers. It makes me wonder if it's from always pulling their scorpions etc on just the one leg, and thus only stretching half their back.

The reason I'm so worried about it is because although I am a base, I started stretching my scorpion about a year ago on just the one leg, before I knew what scoliosis was. After about 6 months, I found out about the importance of stretching both sides. I do now, but ever since I started stretching my scorp, I tumble crooked and my back is uneven. It doesn't hurt, but it's worrying.

Do you think cheerleading can be a cause of scoliosis when things are done incorrectly?

My daughter had severe scoliosis before she started gymnastics and cheerleading. She was a base. The specialists said that these sports were actually helping her, (especially gymnastics) because they kept her core strong and the muscles helped support her spine. She saw several specialists and none suggested she pull out of cheer. They did coach her on the proper way to stand and told her surgery was likely in her future.

She is done cheering now and just this spring they told her that her spine had corrected itself enough so she wouldn't require surgery.

The worst problem was with the constant back pain. What most people don't realize is that scoliosis can cause a lot of pain while cheerleading. The best I can suggest is to make sure your doctor or the nurse is checking your spine at every visit. And know to stop when the pain becomes unmanageable without medicating.

 

[MomMomMamaMom]

One of my daughters has had mild scoliosis that has progressed to severe over the past few years. One of the factors for the progression is growth. Another, may be, the uneven muscle development that comes from flying and gymnastics (she has done both).. I have spoken in depth with both a doctor and physical therapist, and it appears that uneven muscle development is definitly a stressor if not a cause. While the core muscle development, and the exercise that come from cheerleading are very helpful when it comes to managing scoliosis, the neglect of the one side of the body and development is not. I can't speak for other than one gymnastics and one cheer gym, but it appears that both activities have had some negative impact on my daughter's scoliosis. That being said, she is encouraged to continue to cheer, but has been medically instructed to a.) stop when the pain becomes unmanageable (which is not often looked highly upon in competitive sports) and b.) spend her off time exercising and stretching to develop the other side of her body, since it has not been something that has been emphasized or encouraged in either of the gyms she has attended.

 

[ultimatelegacy]

My daughter had severe scoliosis before she started gymnastics and cheerleading. She was a base. The specialists said that these sports were actually helping her, (especially gymnastics) because they kept her core strong and the muscles helped support her spine. She saw several specialists and none suggested she pull out of cheer. They did coach her on the proper way to stand and told her surgery was likely in her future.

She is done cheering now and just this spring they told her that her spine had corrected itself enough so she wouldn't require surgery.

The worst problem was with the constant back pain. What most people don't realize is that scoliosis can cause a lot of pain while cheerleading. The best I can suggest is to make sure your doctor or the nurse is checking your spine at every visit. And know to stop when the pain becomes unmanageable without medicating.

I still suffer pain from many activities, including any strenuous workouts, or even just sleeping. My suggestion is to keep up with the doctor's visits. Bad news is...they may tell you that you need the surgery (metal rod stuck up your spine and you can't cheer anymore), which is why I made sure I was done cheering before I went to my checkup. But it's more important than cheerleading. It's your life. My great aunt suffered from a severe hunchback from this for her entire life because she didn't get it fixed...

 

[Lissylou]

Going to a chiropractor would be the best thing you could do for your back if you are worried about scoliosis. Purely because they are a specialist in spines, necks, etc. If you strech both sides, keep flexible and exercise regularly (focus on building strength in the core, upper body, lower back and arms) it shouldn't be a major problem. This is just what my Chiro has told me to do (as I am vulnerable to scoliosis) and this will help prevent it.

Disclaimer: I'm not a medical professional. This is just what my Chiro has told me is basic care and prevention steps for everyone.

 

[TheUltimateFan]

.........That being said, she is encouraged to continue to cheer, but has been medically instructed to a.) stop when the pain becomes unmanageable (which is not often looked highly upon in competitive sports) and b.) spend her off time exercising and stretching to develop the other side of her body, since it has not been something that has been emphasized or encouraged in either of the gyms she has attended.

The first time I saw the x-rays of my daughter's back I was physically sick to my stomach. Her spine looked like a snake. Even with the correction she is several inches shorter than the height to which she would have grown without scoliosis.

It's sad that the need to stop when the pain is too high even needs to be stated, but it is a fact. This is one of those times when parents have to be 'that kind of cheer mom/dad'. I've brought her x-rays into the gym and made coaches who didn't appear to care look at them. Coaches, if you have a girl in your program that has scoliosis, don't turn this against her. She's not a 'slacker' if she's there at every practice. Many of you have no idea of the pain they suffer to be there doing what they love. A slacker or a quitter would have quit.

 

[Bronte Hampton]

I had my severe scoliosis corrected 3 years ago and I wouldn't say cheerleading causes it at all I would say it helps in fact to build care strength and gives you better posture.

I am far from being one of the worlds greatest cheerleaders but I can base, back-spot, jump & can fly if I wanted to with my 14 level spinal fusion (Nearly my whole spine). I'm currently learning to tumble and yes it does take me longer to get the skills as my body needs more conditioning than the other girls on my team but I am getting there. I've only been cleared & allowed to tumble for about 9 months and only recently (since Late Jan/Feb) really started working on my tumbling and I nearly have my bridge, which is a big deal for me as I am not as flexible as the other girls. I haven't mastered my forwards roll yet as I tend to freak out about landing them wrong but I'm sure I'll get there in the end

 

[GreenStormLucy]

I have scoliosis, too. I really suffer from back pain often, but i don't want a surgery. I think on one hand cheerleading helped me because of better posture and body awareness, but i guess being a side base all the years wasn't a good idea. As i started back spotting, my muscular dybalance in my back got better.

We have a girl cheering at my youth team who has a metal stick "in" her spine because of a fracture.
Her doctor released her for cheerleading and she says she can do almost everything without pain. The only thing causing problems are slow, bending moves like back walkovers. She can still do a bhs without problems or pain.
But i'm still carefull with putting her in positions that could cause problems.



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[MakeYourMark]

Absolutely. I had very veeerrryyy slight scoliosis before cheerleading. After being a top, and only stretching my one side I had a needle. BUT this had caused my scoliosis to increase! now, after 2 years of not stretching, I still have this scoliosis and LOTS of back pain.

 

[Bronte Hampton]

I have scoliosis, too. I really suffer from back pain often, but i don't want a surgery. I think on one hand cheerleading helped me because of better posture and body awareness, but i guess being a side base all the years wasn't a good idea. As i started back spotting, my muscular dybalance in my back got better.

We have a girl cheering at my youth team who has a metal stick "in" her spine because of a fracture.
Her doctor released her for cheerleading and she says she can do almost everything without pain. The only thing causing problems are slow, bending moves like back walkovers. She can still do a bhs without problems or pain.
But i'm still carefull with putting her in positions that could cause problems.



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Yeah the pain sucks & is really the reason I got surgery, I had a double 80 degree curve one being in my thoracic spine and the other in my lumbar. I like you didn't want the surgery but I had to as scoliosis was really effecting my health, like my lung function is reduced. I am so glad that I am still able to cheer though as I was originally told I wouldn't have been able too

And its great to hear that a girl with a rod and pins is able to back hand spring as I really want to achieve one if I can with my rods and screws.

Also stretching is proven to improve scoliosis yet some curves are just naturally destined to increase in size Like before my surgery My curves had been stable at 55 degrees for 2 years and then in the space of about 3months they increased to the 80 degrees

 

[Cheer Cougar]

My cp is a back spot and was diagnosed with scoliosis about 4 yrs ago. Dr said cheerleading and stretching would help the spine. My cp says tumbling is the worst cause of pain. But she's a trooper, few complaints!

 

[Angelica]

I cheered with a girl who had the worst scoliosis I've ever seen in person for 5 years in highschool. She tumbled fine though, she had a full! After she graduated she got the surgery to make her spine straight by putting rods in her back. She now can't cheer anymore but when she did she never let scoliosis be an excuse for her.
One of my flyers this year actually has it too!


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