Episode 156: Back Pain in Cheerleaders and Cheer Parents: When to Worry, What to Watch For, and How to Move Better Naturally

About this episode

This episode discusses back pain in cheerleaders and their parents, exploring causes, prevention, and relief strategies.

Back pain can sideline a cheerleader… but it can also wear down the parents driving to practices, flying to competitions, and carrying all the gear. In this week’s episode of The Cheer Athlete Podcast , I’m expanding the conversation beyond just the athlete—because healthy cheerleaders need healthy parents, too. In this episode, we discuss: ✅ Common causes of back pain in cheerleaders ✅ When back pain might be serious (and when it may not be) ✅ The difference between muscle strains vs. stress injuries like spondylolysis/spondylolisthesis ✅ Why stretching alone may not solve the problem ✅ How mobility, stability, breathing, and motor control all play a role in pain relief ✅ Travel tips for cheer weekends, flights, and long car rides ✅ What cheer parents can do for their own hip and back pain Whether you’re a flyer, base, coach, or cheer parent—this episode will help you understand pain differently and learn how to move better for the long haul. 🎁 Resources mentioned in this episode: • Injury Prevention Starter Kit • 7-Day Hip & Back Relief Guide Connect with Laura HERE If this episode helped you, please subscribe, share it with another cheer family, and leave a review…

People in this episode

Host: Laura Turner

Topics covered

• back pain
• cheerleaders
• cheer parents
• pain relief
• mobility
• injury prevention

Keywords

• back pain
• cheerleading
• injury prevention
• mobility
• stress injuries
• spondylolysis
• spondylolisthesis
• cheer parents
• pain relief

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Injury Prevention Starter Kit, 7-Day Hip & Back Relief Guide

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 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
• Episode 154: Is 16 Too Late to Start Tumbling? What Cheerleaders (and Parents) Need to Know · April 30, 2026 · 15 min