Neurosurgery Outreach Month
With kids going back to school soon and football practice already underway in many communities, the AANS has issued an injury prevention message about football and cheerleading. The need for greater awareness about the potentially devastating consequences of head and spinal cord injuries associated with these sports led to the focus for this year's August Neurosurgery Outreach Month.
The annual incidence of football-related concussion in the United States is estimated at 300,000 and nearly 45,000 football-related head injuries were serious enough to be treated at U.S. hospital emergency rooms in 2009. Although head injuries and concussions associated with football have been well publicized and subject to recent Congressional hearings, there is less public awareness about the neurological injuries associated with cheerleading, which are certainly less prevalent, but can be just as devastating. Cheerleading, which once meant cheering on athletes – has changed drastically in the last 20 years and has become a highly acrobatic sport. A number of schools at the high school and college level have limited the types of stunts that can be attempted by their cheerleaders. Rules and safety guidelines now apply to both practice and competition.
Click here to read the press release. Click here to read the recently updated Sports-Related Head Injury topic.