Being cut from a team can feel like the end of the world — but sometimes, it’s the start of something even better.
Dr. Laura Turner (The Cheer PT) shares her personal story of resilience, how to help your athlete handle disappointment, and why grit and growth matter more than perfection.

🎯 Learn how rejection can become redirection — both in cheer and in life.

📘 Grab Laura’s book Strength and Conditioning for the Cheer Athlete on Amazon. https://a.co/d/75Py0jn
💡 More free injury prevention tips at LTTheCheerPT.com

Welcome to The Cheer Athlete Podcast! I’m Laura Turner, The Cheer PT — Doctor of Physical Therapy and strength coach, helping cheerleaders, coaches, and parents keep athletes healthy, safe, and strong for life.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and today I’m sharing why it’s so important to start open conversations about breast health early — especially with our kids.

This is a personal topic for me. I found my first lump as a teenager while I was cheering. Thankfully, it wasn’t cancer — but I went on to find several more lumps in my 20s and 40s. Those experiences, along with seeing friends, teammates, and parents affected by breast cancer, have shaped how I view prevention, screening, and awareness.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why teens should start hearing about breast health at puberty (without fear).

• How self-awareness and knowing your body can make all the difference.

• The role of family history (and why you should look at BOTH your mother’s and father’s side).

• How genetic testing can empower informed decisions.

• The progress we’ve made in treatment and survivorship — and why hope matters.

• How cheerleading teams and communities can play a role in raising awareness.

My message: Talking about breast cancer shouldn’t be taboo. Open conversations help our athletes grow up informed, empowered, and proactive about their health.

✨ Resources:

• American Cancer Society

• Breast Cancer Research Foundation

💌 Questions or stories to share? Reach out at [email protected] or connect on Instagram @thecheerpt.

Learn more ways to connect with Laura at LTTheCheerPT.com

Remember: Take life one step at a time. Don’t forget to breathe out. And always take care of the body that takes care of you.

Welcome to The Cheer Athlete Podcast! I’m Laura Turner, The Cheer PT. I help cheerleaders, parents, and coaches navigate injuries, prevent setbacks, and keep athletes healthy and strong so they can cheer for life.

This week’s episode is about perception — and how changing the way we look at challenges can help athletes (and all of us) move forward.

I was inspired by Jeremy Renner’s book My Next Breath, where he shares lessons from his near-fatal accident and recovery. His story carries powerful takeaways for cheerleaders:

• Love matters most. When everything else fades, love for family, teammates, and the sport is what carries us through.

• Focus on the next breath. In moments of stress, pain, or self-doubt, progress comes from taking things one step — and one breath — at a time.

• Shift your perception of pain. Pain doesn’t always mean you’re finished; it can be a signal to pay attention, adjust, and keep moving forward.

These lessons apply not only on the mat, but in school, training, and life. Whether you’re learning a new skill, balancing schoolwork, or facing setbacks, perception and persistence can change everything.

📖 Want to dive deeper? Check out My Next Breath by Jeremy Renner on Spotify, Audible, or Kindle.

👉 And if you’re looking for cheer-specific tools, grab my free guide: 3 Tips to Prevent Injury in Cheer and my done-for-you Warm-Up & Cool-Down Program

Remember: Take one step at a time. Don’t forget to breathe. You can do anything you put your mind to.

Conditioning is essential for cheerleaders — but should it ever be used as punishment when a flyer falls?

In this episode, I break down why “exercise as consequence” can actually increase injury risk and create fear instead of confidence. We’ll talk about what really causes falls, share voices from the cheer world, and dive into 5 research-backed tips to keep stunt groups safer and more consistent.

👉 Download your free Injury Prevention Guide here: https://ltthecheerpt.com/injuryfree-350183

References & Sources Mentioned:

• Braun-Trocchio, C., et al. (2024). Effects of Coaching Behaviors and Differences in Sport Injury Anxiety Among Cheerleaders. Journal of Emerging Sport Studies. Link

• Mueller, F. O., et al. Cheerleader Injuries and Safety. PMC. Link

• FierceBoard Community Discussion: Conditioning as Punishment Link

• Cheerleading Coaching Blog – Coach Brandy: How to Deal with Talkers on Your Team Link

• Varsity News – AACCA Rules Update, Jim Lord quote Link

What you’ll learn today:

• Why punishment conditioning can lead to more falls

• How fatigue, fear, and poor timing play into stunt crashes

• Real quotes from athletes, coaches, and cheer leaders

• Five practical ways to reduce falls & prevent injury

Tune in, share with your coaching staff, and start building safer, stronger stunt groups.

To access other free guides and learn more about programs, head to LTTheCheerPT.com

Try these 2 tips that I learned from Tony Robbins

To connect with Laura LTTheCheerPT.com

Think cheerleading is the most dangerous sport? The data tells a different story.This surprised me too.

Cheerleading injuries aren’t as common as you think — but when they happen, they can be serious. In this episode, we break down the latest research on injury rates, concussion trends, and stunt risks, plus practical strategies every coach and parent can use to keep athletes safe.

Resources:

USA Cheer Article

A systematic review of cheerleading injuries: epidemiological characteristics, biomechanical mechanisms, and prevention strategies

Connect with Laura at LTTheCheerPT.com

There's been a lot of social media and news buzz lately about the male cheerleaders in the NFL.

Share this episode with someone who doesn't understand how male cheerleaders have shaped the world of cheer...from my perspective.

If you want to connect with Laura head to LTTheCheerPT.com

If you would like to learn more about movement screening, you can sign up here and I will send you a series of emails.

To connect with Laura and access all the free guides, LTTheCheerPT.com

They say anything worth having is worth the sacrifice. Do you agree?

Connect with Laura and find the Strength and Conditioning For Cheer Athletes book at LTTheCheerPT.com

In this episode I share my thoughts about the pending Presidential Fitness Test and what I think would be more helpful if we actually want to have fit and healthy kids (and adults too :)

Check out https://www.functionalmovement.com/ to learn more

To learn more about Rebel Aid follow them on Instagram

or go to their Website

Connect with Laura HERE and access free guides or find her on social media :)