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