First annual Cheerleading Safety Symposium Will Address Unique Needs of Cheerleaders

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) and USA Cheer, the governing body for cheerleading in the United States, have partnered to produce the first ever Cheerleading Safety Symposium to be held April 27 – 29, 2012 at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort® in Orlando, FL.

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With the increased athleticism and growing popularity of cheerleading in the U.S. and across the world, ASMI and the USA Cheer National Safety Council have developed a curriculum aimed at athletic trainers, physical therapists and coaches to address prevention and proper management of common cheerleading injuries.

"We're excited to team up with one of the leading sports medicine groups in the country," says Bill Seely, Executive Director of USA Cheer. "We want to remain ever vigilant in our continued effort to keep cheer safe for the young people who participate and we couldn't ask for a better partner than ASMI."

ASMI, well known for their "Injuries in Baseball Course," which they have conducted annually for the past 30 years, will be leading the sports medicine team with sessions on diagnosis, treatment and management of cheerleading injuries. Speakers for the symposium include USA Cheer Medical Director Dr. Jeffery Dugas, Dr. Lyle Cain, and Dr. Tracy Ray of the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center, as well as nationally recognized athletic trainers Karen Lew (University of Miami) and NAIA Athletic Trainer of the Year Pete Manely, both of whom have extensive experience working with cheerleading injuries. 

Gerald S. George, Ph.D., senior editor of all three AACCA Cheerleading Safety Manuals, and Dawn Comstock, Ph.D., principal investigator at The Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital will detail available cheerleading injury studies and discuss upcoming research.

USA Cheer's national team coaches will be on hand to demonstrate the mechanics of cheerleading skills. Continuing Education Credits will be available for athletic trainers.

Details and registration for the event are available at http://usacheer.net/Content.aspx/News/USACheer_ASMI_Safety_Symposium

About ASMI
American Sports Medicine Institute, located in Birmingham, Alabama is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the understanding, prevention, and treatment of sports-related injuries through research, technology-based education, and information dissemination.  ASMI is the nation's largest accredited trainer of sports medicine physicians.  World renowned orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. James R. Andrews, is a founder and serves as ASMI's Chairman of the Board and Medical Director. 

About USA Cheer
The USA Federation for Sport Cheering is a not-for profit organization and is the national governing body for all disciplines of cheerleading. USA Cheer has three primary objectives: help grow and develop interest and participation in Cheer throughout the United States; promote safety and safety education for cheer in the United States; and represent the United States of America in international cheer competitions.

SOURCE USA Cheer

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