Latest news with #sportsinjury
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Cheer coaches accused of putting a team member in hospital after grueling workout - and its not the first time its happened at the school
The family of a North Texas high school cheerleader is suing three of the school's former coaches after their extreme workouts allegedly landed the girl in hospital. According to the lawsuit, while employed by Rockwall Heath High School, the defendants would force the students to do strenuous exercises — like 50 burpees with pushups in five minutes — as a form of punishment. Michael Sawicki, the attorney representing the cheerleader, told NBC DFW that his client was already feeling ill and even had a doctor's note saying she was sick, but social pressures compelled her to try to push through the workout. A week later she was in the hospital suffering from rhabdomyolysis, according to the lawsuit. Rhabdomyolysis is a condition in which the skeletal muscle tissue breaks down and releases its contents into the bloodstream, and it can be caused by overuse of the muscles. When the skeletal muscle material enters the bloodstream, it can potentially lead to kidney failure. 'There was pressure by the teachers that if you don't perform you don't get to go, you don't get to participate in activities. You don't get to be on the squad, and for young kids that really want to be on a team, that's a powerful motivation to work through the pain,' Sawicki said. 'And that's exactly what happened to the boys in the football case.' It's not the first time the school has been linked to a case of rhabdomyolysis among its student athletes, either. In 2023, several football players from the high school were hospitalized and reportedly diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis after being forced to do similarly grueling exercises, Sawicki, who represented a handful of players in lawsuits, said. 'This is Rockwall Heath High School. The exact same high school where the 20+ boys that we know of were hospitalized or required treatment after a football workout,' Sawicki said. 'If I had gotten this call about another school in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, yeah maybe I could understand. This is the same exact school.' One of the findings in that case was the need for better education for the teachers about the potential risks associated with extreme physical activity. Sawicki said that "in the football investigation, there were discussions about how [rhabdomyolysis] training needed to be a part of it." According to the cheerleader's lawsuit, a one of the coaches allegedly admitted that she had "no rhabdomyolysis training," and said that in hindsight "I would not assign [burpees] again." All three of the coaches named in the lawsuit have resigned their positions on the cheer team. A Rockwall Independent School District investigation found that the "three teachers' actions violated at least five different district policies," according to the report. The investigation determined that the cheer coaches "did not follow the doctor's orders" in its handling of the sick cheerleader, and noted that "there is a lack of knowledge and training by the coaches regarding rhabdomyolysis." Initially the girl's parents just wanted the school to pay for her medical bills, but the Sawicki claims the school "dragged out" the appeals process for months and then determined that "by law, please know that the district is unable to provide compensation because such compensation would be a prohibited gift of public funds." After that, the parents decided to sue. The Independent has requested comment from Rockwall ISD.
The Independent
an hour ago
- Health
- The Independent
Cheer coaches accused of putting a team member in hospital after grueling workout - and its not the first time its happened at the school
The family of a North Texas high school cheerleader is suing three of the school's former coaches after their extreme workouts allegedly landed the girl in hospital. According to the lawsuit, while employed by Rockwall Heath High School, the defendants would force the students to do strenuous exercises — like 50 burpees with pushups in five minutes — as a form of punishment. Michael Sawicki, the attorney representing the cheerleader, told NBC DFW that his client was already feeling ill and even had a doctor's note saying she was sick, but social pressures compelled her to try to push through the workout. A week later she was in the hospital suffering from rhabdomyolysis, according to the lawsuit. Rhabdomyolysis is a condition in which the skeletal muscle tissue breaks down and releases its contents into the bloodstream, and it can be caused by overuse of the muscles. When the skeletal muscle material enters the bloodstream, it can potentially lead to kidney failure. 'There was pressure by the teachers that if you don't perform you don't get to go, you don't get to participate in activities. You don't get to be on the squad, and for young kids that really want to be on a team, that's a powerful motivation to work through the pain,' Sawicki said. 'And that's exactly what happened to the boys in the football case.' It's not the first time the school has been linked to a case of rhabdomyolysis among its student athletes, either. In 2023, several football players from the high school were hospitalized and reportedly diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis after being forced to do similarly grueling exercises, Sawicki, who represented a handful of players in lawsuits, said. 'This is Rockwall Heath High School. The exact same high school where the 20+ boys that we know of were hospitalized or required treatment after a football workout,' Sawicki said. 'If I had gotten this call about another school in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, yeah maybe I could understand. This is the same exact school.' One of the findings in that case was the need for better education for the teachers about the potential risks associated with extreme physical activity. Sawicki said that "in the football investigation, there were discussions about how [rhabdomyolysis] training needed to be a part of it." According to the cheerleader's lawsuit, a one of the coaches allegedly admitted that she had "no rhabdomyolysis training," and said that in hindsight "I would not assign [burpees] again." All three of the coaches named in the lawsuit have resigned their positions on the cheer team. A Rockwall Independent School District investigation found that the "three teachers' actions violated at least five different district policies," according to the report. The investigation determined that the cheer coaches "did not follow the doctor's orders" in its handling of the sick cheerleader, and noted that "there is a lack of knowledge and training by the coaches regarding rhabdomyolysis." Initially the girl's parents just wanted the school to pay for her medical bills, but the Sawicki claims the school "dragged out" the appeals process for months and then determined that "by law, please know that the district is unable to provide compensation because such compensation would be a prohibited gift of public funds." After that, the parents decided to sue.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- Health
- The Sun
Former footballer turned cricketer suffered bizarre injury by pressing a button in a lift
CRICKET star Ben McKinney was forced to miss a week of action - after injuring himself waiting for a LIFT. Ben McKinney, 20, sat out a county championship match against Hampshire with back spasms earlier this month. 2 The 6ft7 opening batsman is a former footballer in Sunderland 's academy. But despite being a natural sportsman, his body let him down in the most bizarre fashion. McKinney told The Telegraph: "I had a heavy bag on my shoulder and bent down to press the button. "My back went into spasm and that was it." Durham star McKinney is the latest youngster seemingly destined for the England setup. He captained the England under-19 side and has enjoyed two tours with the Lions to South Africa and Australia. McKinney penned a two-year extension in the North East in January. And he credits England legend Andrew Flintoff with helping him improve his game over recent months. McKinney added: "Freddie spoke to me about self confidence and presence. "I used to actually be quite a small presence at the crease in terms of posture and body language. Jobe Bellingham takes swipe at Sky Sports pundits in live TV interview before awkward moment with panel at Wembley "The big thing I got from him was, actually, yeah, I'm at the crease now, and no one's gonna get me out and I'm gonna try and bully the bowler. "It's not a disrespectful thing to anyone. It's just that self confidence. It does help. I'm quite the opposite person off the field." McKinney was on the books at Sunderland as a teenager, before having to make a choice between football and cricket. He added: "I was, to be fair to myself, a decent footballer, but it's obviously really hard to break through. "I'm not saying it's not hard to crack cricket, but the chances and the amount of people that play football make it tough. "And, you know, there's people that loved it [football] more than me as well. Cricket was always the number one for me." McKinney is a boyhood Sunderland fan but was unable to make this month's Championship playoff final against Sheffield United. The Black Cats returned to the Premier League after a last-minute comeback win over the Blades at Wembley. He continued: "I was already out so was able to watch the play-off final [on the TV in the dressing room]. "One of the only occasions I've been glad to be out."
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Not a sport': Top NZ sports doctors call for ban on RunIt
RUNIT Auckland. Trusts Stadium. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / Photosport Some of the country's top sports doctors have joined a growing chorus calling for a ban to the social media event 'RunIt', saying the collisions between participants are comparable to car crashes. The events, in which two competitors run at each other before colliding at full speed, is growing in popularity and two men were knocked unconscious during a recent event in Auckland, with one slumping to the ground and appearing to have a seizure. A Palmerston North teenager died after taking part in a backyard version of the game. Ryan Satterthwaite, 19, died after suffering a catastrophic head injury. His uncle Pete Satterthwaite told RNZ he had been told it was a "very freak accident". He said when he saw Run It in the news, he thought it was a "stupid idea and nothing good is going to come of it, and someone is going to get seriously hurt". Former All Black Eroni Clarke, now the Pasifika Engagement Manager for NZ Rugby, has also warned against taking part in such events. He told RNZ it would be hard to ban the game, but he encouraged people to stay away and, if they wanted to take part in a contact sport, join a rugby team and receive proper coaching. RUNIT Auckland. Trusts Stadium. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / Photosport Some of Aotearoa's top clinicians also want the events banned. In a statement, Executive members of Sports Medicine New Zealand (SMNZ), said it was "appalled at the lack of safety measures and regulations that have already lead to severe injuries, and at least one fatality, attributed to new social media event 'RunIt'". Dr Stephen Kara, National Chair of SMNZ, said the biomechanics of RunIt collisions are comparable to severe car crashes. "When two 105kg participants (average body mass of rugby players) sprint towards each other, the impact force can exceed 16,800 Newtons. This force is over three times that of a professional boxer's punch and more than 1.5 times the force of falling from two meters. Such high-impact collisions carry a significant risk of severe brain injury, fractures, and death," Dr Kara said. "This activity doesn't just endanger participants, but makes a mockery of the considerable effort and investment contact sports have made on impact-readiness training, brain injury awareness, reporting and management, all in a bid to ensure the safety and well-being of athletes. "New Zealand is a proud sporting nation and those of us who work in the industry, committed to helping athletes achieve their best and stay healthy, are astounded that such an event can not only be permitted under the Health and Safety Act, but can even remotely call itself a 'sport'. "RunIt is not a sport. It is jousting without sticks, and whilst that may have been a sport in medieval times, it has no place in today's sporting arenas."
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Ex-Kiwi Dean Lonergan warns ill-equipped participants of high injury risk from collision games
Dean Lonergan says doctors are at the bottom of the cliff "cleaning up the mess" during organised events, such as Run It Straight. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / People are putting themselves at enormous risk of serious injury because they are taking multiple big hits to bodies that are often "out of shape", former Kiwi league player Dean Longeran says. Controversy over the viral tackle game has heightened since the death of 19-year-old Ryan Satterthwaite on Monday. His uncle, Pete Satterthwaite, has called for high profile sports stars and social media influencers to take a stand against it . Former All Blacks Eroni Clarke and Steve Devine are among those who have been highly critical. On Thursday Lonergan, a former boxing promoter and rugby league star, said he had seen Run It Straight clashes on social media and it soon became obvious to him the encounters were "not the smartest thing you could do". When two men weighing around 120kg each bashed into other at around 25kmh, "what happens is this enormous kinetic energy is coming together. Bodies stop but brains keep going forward". In sports there were similar collisions sometimes resulting in players being knocked out, Lonergan said. However, with Run it Straight encounters, "you don't get the sheer size and force of what's going on and I think there's going to be potentially a lot of brain injuries come out of this and potentially lesser injuries, broken ribs, broken sternums, dislocated shoulders". On social media, knock-outs were being celebrated even though men could be seen going into spasms and their arms were locking. "I would certainly advise anyone not to do it." Some would be tempted by the "alluring" cash prizes, Lonergan said. Rugby and league players were conditioned for the physicality of their sport and were taught how to tackle properly. Some of the Run it Straight participants were "out of shape" and their skill level was "through the floor". Several were also tackling too high, raising the injury risk, Lonergan said. While doctors were present for the organised events, "they're not at the top of the cliff, they're down at the bottom cleaning up the mess because the injuries have already happened when guys are getting knocked out". Lonergan, who has been concussed three or four times and been knocked out once during his playing career, said participants were taking "big hits" and sometimes being knocked out multiple times. "So the level of injury is through the roof. ... Sometimes you've got to protect people from themselves." It was nothing like Bulrush that was popular a few decades ago because that was about avoiding physical contact, he said. While there has been a call for prominent players to make their opposition known, Lonergan believed the responsibility lay with councils and the government. However, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon ruled out any government action on Morning Report today. He said influencers and adults promoting the trend needed to stop and rethink their actions. Luxon said Satterthwaite's death was "an absolute tragedy". However, it would not be practical for the government to get involved in introducing legislation to curb the activity. "That's not practical but the point is common sense would say why would you participate?"
