The Cheer Athlete

Laura Turner
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

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!

  1. 18h ago

    Episode 170: Your Neck Feels Tight-But It Might Not Be The Problem

    Your neck feels tight—but is your neck actually the problem? When something feels stiff, our first instinct is often to stretch it. But if you keep stretching the same area and the tightness keeps returning, it may be time to ask a different question. In this episode, we explore neck motion as part of your entire movement system. You'll learn what to notice when you turn your head from side to side, why range of motion is only part of the story, and how other areas of your body can influence the way your neck moves. Most importantly, we'll talk about shifting the question from: “What should I stretch?” to: “Why am I moving this way?” Try the simple neck-motion check with me during the episode and see what you discover. Better movement isn't about chasing every tight muscle. It's about understanding how your body works together. Get the Movement Tracker Here Connect with Laura on Instagram Here More resources HERE

  2. Aug 13

    Episode 169: Trunk Extension: Creating Space for Better Movement

    Your back is supposed to bend forward—but it’s also supposed to extend. So why does reaching overhead sometimes leave you feeling tight through your shoulders or pinched in your lower back? In this episode of The Cheer Athlete Podcast, we continue our movement-screen series by looking at trunk extension and what the entire body should be doing when you reach overhead or lean backward. We’ll break down: What trunk extension should look likeWhy extension isn’t just arching your lower backHow the thoracic spine, rib cage, pelvis, hips, shoulders, and even breathing contributeCommon compensations like lumbar hinging, rib flare, shoulder shrugging, and breath holdingWhy a “tight shoulder” may not actually be just a shoulder problemHow flexion and extension work together as part of a connected movement systemMost importantly, we’ll continue practicing something I want coaches, trainers, therapists, athletes, and anyone interested in movement to get better at: Observe before you correct. 🎯 This Week’s Movement Challenge:Watch three people reach overhead. Don’t just watch their hands. Look at the entire body. Where does the movement begin?What stays quiet?What moves too much?What surprises you? And remember: compensation isn’t necessarily failure. It’s information. If you want a simple way to start observing and tracking movement for yourself, your athletes, or your clients, check out the Movement Tracker If you found this episode helpful, please consider leaving a review or sharing with someone who is also interested in learning to move better.

  3. Aug 6

    Episode 168: Trunk Flexion: Why Bending Forward Isn't Bad for Your Back

    Most people have been told to "lift with your legs" and never bend their back. But is that really how the body was designed to move? In this episode, we take a closer look at trunk flexion—one of the most important movement patterns we use every day. From tying your shoes to picking something up off the floor, bending forward is a normal and necessary part of healthy movement. You'll learn: Why trunk flexion is essentialWhat a normal toe touch should look likeCommon movement compensations to watch forhy flexibility isn't always the problemHow I assess movement to determine whether someone needs more mobility or more stabilityDue to technical difficulties, this week's episode is presented in an audio-first format with movement demonstrations and educational visuals added throughout. Whether you're a coach, trainer, therapist, cheerleader, or simply someone who wants to move better, this episode will help you begin seeing movement differently. Download the Movement Tracker to start observing your own movement patterns.

  4. Jul 30

    Episode 167: Movement Is a Conversation—Are You Listening?

    Movement Leaves Clues. What if the way you move is telling you more than where you hurt? In this episode of The Cheer Athlete Podcast, I explain why movement is more than pass or fail—it’s information. Whether you're a coach, trainer, therapist, athlete, or someone simply trying to move better, learning to observe movement differently can change how you coach, treat, and train. We'll explore: Why every movement pattern tells a storyWhat compensation really means (and why it isn't always bad)The four questions I ask when assessing movementWhy looking at multiple movement patterns reveals more than focusing on one painful areaHow changing the way you observe movement can improve performance and reduce injury riskRemember: Compensation isn't bad. Compensation is information. This episode is the first in a new series where we'll begin breaking down individual movement patterns and what they reveal about how the body works as a connected system. ⬇️ Resources✅ Download my FREE Movement Tracker 💪 Learn more about the Move Better App If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a coach, trainer, therapist, parent or athlete who wants to understand movement on a deeper level. Movement leaves clues. The better you learn to read them, the better you'll move.

  5. Jul 23

    Episode 166: Your Pain May Not Be The Problem.

    Is the painful area really the problem? Not always. In this episode, I discuss why your body often compensates when movement is limited and why the area that hurts may actually be doing extra work rather than causing the problem. Using a real patient example, I explain how observing movement—not just symptoms—can change the way we approach pain, performance, and recovery. If you've ever wondered why stretching or strengthening the painful area doesn't always work, this episode is for you. Get your MOVEMENT TRACKER HERE Move Better App LEARN MORE HERE Connect with Laura

  6. Jul 16

    Episode 165: Why Your Back Pain Isn't The Problem (Most of the time)

    Why Your Back Pain Isn't the Problem (Most of the Time) Does your back hurt when you lean backward, tumble, reach overhead, or stand for long periods? What if your back isn't actually the problem? In this episode, I use the movement pattern of back extension to show why pain often appears in one area while the real limitation starts somewhere else. Through a real athlete case study, you'll learn why looking at movement—not just muscles or painful joints—can change how you coach, train, and treat people. Whether you're a cheer coach, personal trainer, therapist, or someone trying to move with less pain, this episode will help you begin to see movement differently. In this episode you'll learn: Why pain doesn't always tell you where the problem isWhat to observe during back extensionCommon compensation patterns throughout the bodyWhy movement patterns matter more than individual musclesHow improving mobility and stability elsewhere can change back pain🎁 Download my free Movement Tracker:Connect with LTWebsite: https://MoveBetterLLC.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecheerpt/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thecheerptmovebetter369 Remember... When in doubt, breathe out.

  7. Jul 9

    Episode 164: The Biggest Mistakes Coaches Make During Movement Screens

    In this episode, I explain why movement screens shouldn't be about finding perfect form—they should help us understand how the body solves movement. We'll discuss: • Why compensation isn't always a bad thing• The five questions I ask during every movement screen• How movement quality changes exercise selection• Why mobility, motor control, and strength all work together• Why observing movement is one of the most valuable skills coaches, trainers, therapists, and athletes can develop Whether you're working with cheerleaders, clients in the gym, or simply trying to move better yourself, this episode will help you begin seeing movement in a whole new way. Because better observation leads to better movement.Movement Tracker Move Better App Connect with Laura

  8. Jul 2

    Episode 163: Why Your Foot Isn't the Problem: Understanding Single-Leg Balance

    Is your foot really the problem...or is it just where the movement shows up? In this episode, I pull together the key ideas from my recent five-part YouTube series on single-leg stance and explain the why behind the exercises. We'll talk about why balance is about more than simply standing on one foot, how movement screens help identify the real limiting factor, and why improving mobility, stability, and body awareness often leads to better strength and better performance. Whether you're a cheer coach, athlete, personal trainer, therapist, or someone who simply wants to move better, this episode will help you stop guessing and start understanding movement. Why the site of the problem isn't always the source of the problemWhat single-leg stance can tell you about the entire bodyWhen you need mobility, stability, or strengthWhy corrective exercises are preparation—not the destinationHow body awareness improves movement quality and performanceWhy every old injury deserves consideration when evaluating movementOne takeaway: Your body doesn't move one joint at a time—it moves as one connected system. When you understand the pattern, choosing the right exercise becomes much easier. 🎥 Watch the complete Single-Leg Stance Series on YouTube. 🎁 Download the free Movement Tracker and learn more about the Move Better App using the links below. Movement Tracker Website Move Better App

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About

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!

Information

  • Creator
    Laura Turner
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    172
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Laura Turner
  • Show Website
    The Cheer Athlete

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