As a physiotherapist that specialises in circus and the founder of Perform Health— I have spent the last decade engaging with people in this community. I often bear witness to a couple of recurring issues that patients are faced with in their experiences with generic or sports physical therapists. First, there is frustration at not being able to communicate quickly and clearly about the complex acrobatic movements they perform, and second, there is often a  lack of education and skill on the part of the healthcare provider in relation to the unique skill-set of circus performers, leading the provider to  be all too quick to prescribe the “rest and anti-inflammatories” solution.

Sadly, the stark reality is that circus medicine is a specialty so niche that it is not often easy to find a healthcare provider with relevant experience. Google “circus medicine”  and you’ll see the top hit is a musical rock band, but do the same for “dance medicine” and you’ll get 3 million  actual relevant hits. No, you didn’t misread that number. That said, take the time to research if there are any physical therapists or other allied healthcare professionals out there working with pole, aerial and circus arts in general. Try googling “where to see circus physios” and you’ll find some good links there. If you’re not lucky enough to find a specialised provider near you, here are my 5 top tips to make your appointment with your local therapist go as well as possible: 1. A picture is worth a thousand words ...