A new research has revealed that cheerleading is the most risky sport for female athletes, as girls, who suffer concussions, often don't give importance to, or knowingly neglect, their injuries.
The study, which was conducted on junior and senior high-school cheerleaders, found that 37 percent of the respondents had symptoms of a concussion, but failed to pay any heed to them, the New York Post reported.
The research also noted a sharp increase of hospital emergency visits by cheerleaders, from 4,954 in 1980 to 26,786 in 2007.
Cheerleading is also responsible for 66 percent of disastrous sports injuries, including the ones that shorten lives, result in permanent disability or cause long-term medical conditions, among girls, the study noted.
The research was published in the Journal of Pediatrics.
