The Cheer Athlete | Podcast on Podbay

The Cheer Athlete

Laura Turner

REAL talk about ways to progress in cheerleading, reduce injuries and stay healthy and fit for life. Laura Turner is The Cheer PT. She cheered thru college, while becoming a physical therapist. She has coached both high school and college. Later, her doctorate studies in physical therapy included a final project about cheer injuries and how movement screening may reduce the risk. She is passionate about keeping cheerleaders healthy so they don't lose time at school or with their friends and team. And she LOVEs seeing all the progress cheerleaders continue to make. Are you ready? Let's GO!

Episode 146: Why Flexibility Alone Won’t Improve Your Cheer Skills (Control Is the Key)

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 jumpsIf 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

Mar 5

12 min