Interesting study out last week that says that cheerleading is a less dangerous sport for teens. The report does note that even though there are fewer accidents those that do happen tend to be more severe and more likely to result in concussions.
According to Reuters, “On average, cheerleading typically has less than one injury for every 1,000 minutes of participation time, meaning there’s no more than one accident every 17 hours, the study found.”
According to the report the only sports that are safer are track and field and swimming. The injury rates are obviously much higher for football and surprisingly high for girls’ soccer.
It is a very difficult decision that parents have to make when deciding whether or not to let their child participate in sports, particularly ones that are deemed dangerous. On one hand, children need to get exercise and it is good character building for young people to participate in team sports. On the other hand, when faced with the news about concussions and death it is not surprising that parents are fearful for their children’s safety when playing a sport like football. Look, even if you’re not a football fan, you can’t turn on the television without hearing something about the ongoing controversy over concussions and football.
The debate has been raging in this country for years now about the lack of exercise and the growing waistline of our young Americans. So how do parents decide where to draw the line? I think that you have to take into account that so many sports, like track and field, baseball, swimming and cheerleading are important because they get kids active, they build self-esteem and they teach comradery and teamwork.
I recommend that if parents have concerns that they discuss them with their pediatrician, the school and their children. Here are some alternatives to team sports that I recommend to help keep your child active.
- Sports that are off the playing field such as skiing, swimming, Tae Kwon do, running, kick-boxing, resistance/weight training, etc. are very good for exercising. These days with extreme sports kids are finding where they “fit in” so take an interest in what they’re interested in and encourage them to pursue it.
- Encourage exercise at the local gym. Suggest that they go with their friends. Encourage them to embrace exercise as a lifestyle change that they will have for a lifetime.
- Outdoor sports such as kayaking, bike riding and hiking are also good alternatives. They can also be done in groups to encourage comradery.
Please send me your thoughts on exercise.
LINKS
Cheerleading Among the Safest Sports
Sitting Around Isn’t Good for Anyone’s Health
DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical or psychiatric advice for individual conditions or treatment and does not substitute for a medical or psychiatric examination. A psychiatrist must make a determination about any treatment or prescription. Dr. Paul does not assume any responsibility or risk for the use of any information contained within this blog.
