The paper, which stemmed from her research while a student in Elon's program, measured the shoulder strength and range of motion of circus artists.
The Medical Problems of Performing Arts journal recently published a paper by Elon University Department of Physical Therapy alumna and former Elon cheerleader Carlie Huberman with Assistant Professor Melissa Scales and Associate Professor Srikant Vallabhajosula.
The paper is the first to measure shoulder strength and range of motion of circus artists including ground circus acrobats and aerialists, and stems from Huberman’s research while a student in Elon’s DPT program. In her final year of her doctoral work at Elon in 2018, Huberman completed a research course in which she traveled to seven states and measured the shoulders of 193 circus artists in multiple circus arts gyms.
The study found many interesting things regarding circus artist shoulders. There is little difference in shoulder strength and range of motion between acrobats in their 20s, 30s and 40s. There is little difference in shoulder strength and range of motion between male and female circus acrobats. Men and women of any age may be equally strong and flexible as circus acrobats.
Circus performers who train as both a ground acrobat and an aerialist are also more likely to have more flexibility in their shoulders than just doing one type of circus acrobatics, potentially promoting cross-training. Aerialists have an average shoulder extension over 20 degrees higher than the average adult human.
Huberman currently practices as a physical therapist focusing on musculoskeletal concerns and specializes in circus artists with her own physical therapy practice, Elite Arts PT. Scales has practiced aerial dance recreationally and Vallabhajosula has yet to get up on the silks.
The program is excited to see what future research emerges regarding this athletic population.
Huberman C, Scales MH, Vallabhajosula S. Shoulder Range of Motion and Strength Characteristics in Circus Acrobats. MPPA 2020 September; 145-152. https://www.sciandmed.com/mppa/journalviewer.aspx?issue=1230&article=2320