Cirque du Soleil Concussion Rates: New Study Findings

A decade-long epidemiological study of Cirque du Soleil performers has provided new insights into the incidence and nature of concussions within the high-velocity environment of professional circus arts. Led by Dr. Jeff Russell, an associate professor of Athletic Training at Ohio University’s College of Health Sciences and Professions, the research analyzed medical records from 2010 to 2019 to determine how often head injuries occur in one of the world’s most physically demanding performance companies.

The findings indicate that the rate of concussions among these performers is lower than might be expected given the inherent risks of acrobatics and stunts. Dr. Russell noted that the concussion rate is about on par with what you’d see in baseball or softball.

Study Methodology and Incidence Rates

The research team extracted data from Cirque du Soleil’s digital medical records, focusing on variables such as sex, age at injury, performance type, artistic discipline, mechanism of injury, and the time lost from full participation. The study analyzed data for both touring and resident shows.

Researchers utilized a metric called artist-exposures to calculate incidence. An exposure is defined as any instance in which a performer participates in a training session, rehearsal, or performance. Over the 10-year period, the study identified 2,733,073 exposures.

During this timeframe, 354 concussions were sustained among 296 performers. This results in an overall incidence of 1.30 concussions per 10,000 artist-exposures. The data revealed fluctuations in these rates over the decade, with the lowest rate occurring in 2010 (0.86 per 10,000 artist-exposures) and the highest rate occurring in 2019 (1.93 per 10,000 artist-exposures).

Risk Factors and Mechanisms of Injury

The study identified specific patterns regarding which performers were most susceptible to head injuries and how those injuries occurred. Acrobats were the most commonly affected group, accounting for 82.8% of all recorded concussions.

The most frequent mechanisms of injury were identified as:

• Impact with apparatus or equipment (113 of 354 cases)
• Impact with another artist (106 of 354 cases)

Regarding the context of these injuries, more concussions occurred during actual performances than during training sessions. Nearly half of the injuries—170 out of 354—took place during the first of two shows presented nightly. The researchers found no significant difference in the overall incidence of concussions between performers in resident shows and those on touring shows.

Recovery and Recurrence

The study also tracked the recovery process and the prevalence of repeat injuries. Repeat concussions accounted for 58 of the total cases, representing 16.4% of the injuries.

The time required for a performer to achieve a full return to performance varied significantly, with a mean of 35.5 ± 100.3 days.

Clinical Significance

The researchers concluded that the concussion incidence among Cirque du Soleil artists is noteworthy when compared to sports concussions. This study addresses a gap in medical literature, as research devoted to concussions in the performing arts has historically been scant despite the high-energy and high-velocity nature of the environment.

The project was made possible through collaboration with Todd Richardson, an athletic trainer who has served in both consulting and full-time roles with Cirque du Soleil since 2004.