As the high school cheer season comes to an end here in Massachusetts, this time of year can feel bittersweet for athletes, coaches, and parents.

In this episode of The Cheer Athlete Podcast, I reflect on what the end of a season really means — celebrating the memories, honoring the hard work, and giving your body the recovery it deserves.

Whether your athlete is finishing their senior season, continuing into all-star cheer, or thinking about cheering in college, this is an important transition time. Rest, nutrition, and taking a moment to recharge can make a huge difference in long-term performance and injury prevention.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why recovery is so important after a long cheer season
• How rest, nutrition, and hydration support athlete health
• Encouragement for seniors finishing their final high school season
• How playing other sports can help prevent overuse injuries
• Options for athletes who want to continue cheering in college

Cheerleading creates memories and friendships that last a lifetime — and taking care of your body ensures you can keep enjoying the sport you love.

If you’d like more tips to help keep your cheer athlete healthy and strong, check out my Injury Prevention Starter Kit for Cheerleaders.

Have a question you want answered on the podcast? Ask A PT

Subscribe to the podcast and share this episode with a cheer parent, coach, or athlete who could use a little motivation at the end of the season.

Many cheerleaders are told they need to become more flexible to improve their heel stretches, jumps, and stunts.

But flexibility alone isn’t the answer.

In this episode of The Cheer Athlete Podcast, I break down the missing piece most athletes overlook: control. When athletes rush through stretches or lock out their joints, they lose stability — which can lead to back pain, knee hyperextension, poor stunt stability, and even injury.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why flexibility without control can increase injury risk
• How knee hyperextension affects stunt stability
• The simple cue that helps athletes activate their quads properly
• How controlling the pelvis and ribs improves heel stretches and back stunts
• Why quiet landings are a powerful training tool for stronger jumps

If you want higher jumps, stronger stunts, and healthier athletes, it starts with training control first.

If you'd like help implementing these concepts, check out my Injury Prevention Starter Kit for Cheerleaders, where I walk athletes through proper warm-ups, strength training, and movement control.

Have a question you want answered Ask A PT Here

How do you know if your cheerleader’s injury is serious… or something you can monitor?

Should you go to the ER?
Can they walk it off?
How long will they be out?

In this episode of The Cheer Athlete Podcast, I break down:

• The difference between serious vs catastrophic injuries

• When to call 911 (loss of consciousness, breathing issues, inability to move limbs)

• How to recognize possible fractures, ACL injuries, ankle sprains, and head injuries

• What “bone pain” actually feels like

• When it’s okay to monitor symptoms — and when it’s not

• Realistic recovery timelines for fractures, ACL injuries, and sprains

• Why strength and mobility matter more than just stretching for injury prevention

As both a physical therapist and former cheerleader (yes… three clavicle fractures 😅), I walk you through real-life examples so you feel more confident making decisions when it matters most.

🎯 When in doubt — get checked out.
But let’s help you know what to look for first.

👉 Grab the Injury Prevention Starter Kit for Parents here:
👉 Have a question? Use the “Ask the PT” Form or DM me on Instagram @thecheerpt.

Growth spurts can be tough on cheerleaders — especially when knee or heel pain starts to show up.

In this episode of The Cheer Athlete Podcast, I break down two of the most common growth-related injuries in young athletes: Osgood Schlatter’s disease and Sever’s disease.

You’ll learn:

• What’s actually happening at the knee and heel growth plates

• Why stretching alone isn’t the answer

• The difference between soreness and red-flag symptoms

• When your athlete should modify practice

• How crawling, core stability, and hip strength reduce pain

• When it’s time to seek professional help

These injuries are common during growth spurts — but they don’t have to sideline your athlete.

If your cheerleader is limping after practice or landing differently in jumps, this episode is for you.

👉 Grab the Injury Prevention Starter Kit
👉 Check out my book Strength and Conditioning for the Cheer Athlete
👉 Use the “Ask a PT” form if you have questions

And remember: when in doubt, breathe out.

In this episode of the Cheer Athlete Podcast, we’re talking about a tough—but important—topic: catastrophic injuries in cheerleading.

While these injuries are relatively rare, cheerleading accounts for a significant percentage of catastrophic injuries in female high school sports. In this episode, I break down what “catastrophic injury” really means, the most common types seen in cheer (including concussions, spinal and neck injuries, fractures, and ACL tears), and why many of these injuries occur during practice—not competition.

We’ll cover:

• What qualifies as a catastrophic injury in cheer

• Why cheerleading carries unique risks compared to other sports

• Concussions vs. traumatic brain injuries

• Spinal and cervical injuries and why awareness matters

• Fractures, ACL injuries, and season-ending orthopedic trauma

• How strength, preparation, and proper progressions reduce risk

• The importance of recognizing symptoms and following return-to-play protocols

This episode isn’t meant to scare you—it’s meant to educate, empower, and protect athletes by helping parents and coaches understand risk, readiness, and prevention.

If you found this episode helpful, please share it with another cheer parent or coach.
Have a question or topic you’d like covered? Use the Ask Your PT form HERE
Check out the Injury Prevention Starter Kit for Cheer Parents to learn how to better support your athlete all season long. HERE

Most cheerleading injuries don’t happen from one big fall—they build up slowly over time.

In this episode of The Cheer Athlete Podcast, we break down what overuse injuries are, why cheerleaders are especially at risk, and how parents and coaches can spot the warning signs before a small issue becomes a season-ending injury.

You’ll learn common overuse injuries in cheerleading, why repetition and limited recovery play a role, and three simple things you can start paying attention to right away to keep athletes healthy and on the mat.

Check out the Injury Prevention Starter Kit Here

Do you have a question you would like answered on the podcast? Ask here

Connect with Laura Here

Recovery isn’t the same as rest—and it deserves its own place in cheer training.

In this episode of The Cheer Athlete Podcast, we break down what recovery actually is, what it isn’t, and why skipping recovery increases the risk of overuse injuries. You’ll learn how gentle movement, breathing, hydration, and nervous system regulation help cheerleaders feel better, train better, and stay on the mat longer.

This episode is especially helpful for cheer parents and coaches who want to know when soreness is normal, when it’s not, and how recovery prepares the body for the next practice—not just the end of today’s workout.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it and make sure you're subscribed.

Want to learn more about the $5 Injury Prevention Starter Kit for Cheer Moms?

Connect with Laura at LTTheCheerPT.comHave an injury, flexibility or strength questions Ask A PT HERE

Warm-ups aren’t about stretching—and they’re not just a formality before practice.

In this episode of The Cheer Athlete Podcast, we continue the conversation on warm-ups and break down what they’re actually meant to do for cheerleaders.

You’ll learn why many warm-ups miss the mark, how proper preparation supports performance and injury prevention, and what parents and athletes can do to feel more confident heading into training.

If you want extra support around warm-ups, recovery, and injury prevention, I created a simple, affordable resource for cheer parents:

The Injury Prevention Starter Kit for Cheer Moms
It’s designed to complement cheer training—not add more stress.

If this episode helped you, please share it with another cheer parent, athlete, or coach who could benefit.

In this episode, Laura Turner, the Cheer PT dives into why a dynamic warm up is better than static stretching and when cheerleaders can be expected to warm up on their own.

Connect with Laura at LTTheCheerPT.com

Ask A PT HERE

Grab a signed copy of Strength and Conditioning for the Cheer Athlete HERE

Concussions are real—and they do happen in cheerleading.

In this episode of The Cheer Athlete Podcast, we talk about why concussions occur, how to recognize the signs (even when they’re subtle), and why proper recovery matters—especially for young athletes. We also discuss readiness, strength, and the responsibility coaches and parents share in protecting cheerleaders for the long haul.

This episode is a must-listen as we head into competition season and focus on keeping athletes healthy, strong, and safe.

Have a question you want answered by a PT?

Ask here

To connect with Laura Go hereLTTheCheerPT.com