The current state of play and recommendations for juggling the complexities of circus arts injuries
Author Identifier (ORCID)
Abstract
The circus arts are known for the spectacular performances that thrill audiences with movement at extreme ranges, heights, and speeds but in its entirety, circus arts encompass a broad range of disciplines with differing physical and artistic demands. The practice of this art form also encompasses a variety of recreational settings including physical education, social circus, and fitness. In addition, participation in circus arts is rich across the lifespan. Due to the broad and complex nature of circus arts practice, it is a complex area to capture in research, especially in the domain of injury surveillance. Monitoring and recording injuries are somewhat new in circus arts, with the first study published in 2009 based on the medical database of a large professional company and the first systematic review in 2017 with eight studies included. Injury surveillance research has continued to grow since that time but similar to sport and dance, the methodology used across the existing studies vary widely including the applied definitions of injury and exposure, as well as how groups of circus disciplines are classified. These methodological issues have made it difficult to meaningfully compile and compare the existing research. To improve future circus injury surveillance research, the Surveillance of Injuries for Research on Circus (SIRC) working group published in 2022 a circus-specific extension statement to the 2020 Olympic Committee consensus statement on the methods for recording and reporting of general sports injuries and illnesses. The intent of this guideline is to provide a clear and consistent framework for future injury surveillance in circus organizations, research, and healthcare settings. This chapter consolidates injury surveillance research as of early 2025, attempting to align it, as best possible, with the consensus statement. In addition, recommendations are made for interpreting the existing research and directions for future research.
Keywords
circus arts, injury surveillance, performer injuries, injury prevention, sports medicine, physical performance
Document Type
Book Chapter
Date of Publication
11-20-2025
Publication Title
Perspectives in Performing Arts Medicine Practice II: Occupational Health, Public Health, Arts for Healing
Publisher
Springer
School
Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA)
RAS ID
84569
ISBN
978-3-032-06242-0
Copyright
subscription content
Recommended Citation
Greenspan, S., Stuckey, M., Munro, D., & Nicholas, J. (2025). The current state of play and recommendations for juggling the complexities of circus arts injuries. In S. H. Lee, S. Specter, R. Bahr, C. Burns, & M. Wiranowska (Eds.), Perspectives in performing arts medicine practice II: Occupational health, public health, arts for healing (pp. 43-66). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-06243-7_3