Episode 144: Osgood Schlatter & Sever’s Disease in Cheerleaders What Parents and Coaches Need to Know About Growth-Related Knee and Heel Pain

About this episode

This episode discusses growth-related knee and heel pain in cheerleaders, focusing on Osgood Schlatter’s disease and Sever’s disease.

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.

People in this episode

Host: Laura Turner

Topics covered

• growth-related injuries
• cheerleading
• knee pain
• heel pain
• athlete health
• injury prevention

Keywords

• Osgood Schlatter
• Sever's disease
• cheerleader injuries
• growth spurts
• knee pain
• heel pain
• injury prevention
• core stability
• hip strength

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Injury Prevention Starter Kit, Ask a PT

Books & works: Strength and Conditioning for the Cheer Athlete

More episodes of The Cheer Athlete

• Episode 160: The ABCs of Movement: Awareness, Breath, and Control · June 11, 2026 · 13 min
• Episode 159: The One Balance Test That Predicts How Well You'll Move As You Age (And Why Cheerleaders Practice It Every Day) · June 4, 2026 · 16 min
• Episode 158 Why Your Back Handspring Dies After Your Round-off · May 28, 2026 · 42 min
• Episode 157: Why Rest and Recovery Matter for Cheerleaders, Parents, and Athletes Who Never Slow Down · May 21, 2026 · 11 min
• Episode 156: Back Pain in Cheerleaders and Cheer Parents: When to Worry, What to Watch For, and How to Move Better Naturally · May 14, 2026 · 18 min
• Episode 155: Cheerleading Is About Heart—But Injuries Need Time | When to Push, When to Rest, and How to Return Safely · May 7, 2026 · 21 min