A Cirque du Soleil Physiotherapist's Secrets to Peak Performance
Cirque du Soleil's "Corteo"
We’re excited to share an interview with Head Physio Neil, who has had the unique experience of working with the extraordinary performers of Cirque du Soleil. His insights offer invaluable lessons on injury prevention, recovery, and performance optimisation, relevant to anyone striving for peak physical performance. Get an inside look at Neil's exceptional journey and expertise.
What’s it like being a physio for acrobats and circus performers with such amazing talent, especially with each show being different?
It’s amazing to see the level of skill, talent, and dedication these artists show on a daily basis. The reaction of the crowd is incredible, and being a small part of that is truly humbling. My role is to help them perform at their best and as safely as possible. I feel honored to have been part of such an amazing company that brings joy worldwide. My job is to support them physically and mentally, enabling them to do what they love, which is to perform.
What’s the most important thing to understand about circus performers?
There is no such thing as normal. Everyone is individual, and it’s about what is normal for that person specifically.
We treated contortionists whose range of motion is unlike anything I've seen or anything written in textbooks. Some acts are one-of-a-kind, requiring very specific and individualised rehabilitation. I apply this philosophy to all my patients. All aerial artists generally have labral tears in their shoulders on MRI, yet they function without pain at an elite level. We treat symptoms and functionality rather than a diagnosis, a philosophy I use with all patients.
What injuries were most common?
It varies with each show depending on the acts. On my last show, shoulder injuries were the most common, often overuse tendon-based injuries. However, ankle injuries, including ligament sprains and fractures, caused the most time loss.
How did you support injury recovery?
We hired local massage therapists in each city to provide recovery massages. We also used devices like Game Ready, Normatec, and Compex for recovery. Additionally, we offered stretching and Pilates sessions as part of our recovery strategies.
How did you support injury prevention?
All artists were medically screened on arrival and given individual prevention programs to reduce injury risks. We reviewed their injury histories, as a previous injury is the biggest risk factor for a new one. We also targeted specific high-risk acts with special programs. Collecting injury audit data helped us identify trends and target specific body parts. For instance, the most frequent injury was shoulder-related, so we implemented specific shoulder prevention rehab programs into the weekly training schedules.
What were the main things you found that helped optimize performance?
Hard work and consistency are crucial—strength training, good diet, adequate sleep, and thorough recovery and preparation through flexibility training, injury prevention strategies like yoga and Pilates, and motor control training.
What was your most memorable experience as head physio for Cirque du Soleil?
I have many great memories, including visiting new places in Europe and North America, like Prague, Helsinki, Copenhagen, and Mexico City. The most amazing experience was being asked to perform in a show as a thank you when I was leaving the ice show, Crystal. I performed with the band and played the triangle in front of 5000 people. It was an incredible experience, and I felt very honored. I still managed to be out of tune, so it was never going to be a career change to chief triangle player!
About the Author
Neil Fitzhenry, a former professional footballer, is now a highly experienced physiotherapist specialising in injury treatment and rehabilitation. His background includes senior roles with Premier League teams and Northampton Saints Rugby Union. Neil holds a Bachelor's in Physiotherapy and a Postgraduate Diploma in Football Rehabilitation. His recent role as Head of Performance Medicine at Cirque du Soleil involved managing physio and injury care for elite performers. Learn more about Neil here.