From Circus Physio to working with National Team Divers in Norway: Exploring Shoulder Health and Flexibility in Norwegian Athletes
Last week, I traveled to Norway to run a physiotherapy workshop for a team of competitive divers preparing for the European Championships. As a physiotherapist specialising in Performing Arts Medicine, much of my work in London involves supporting circus artists, dancers, and musicians. This trip opened up new perspectives by connecting my clinical knowledge with the unique biomechanical demands of diving.
PS thanks to Irem Eliassen for organising it!
Diving, like circus and dance, requires extreme control, flexibility, and precision, particularly in the neck, shoulders, and hamstrings. Interestingly, I saw many familiar patterns: shoulder stiffness and hamstring tightness, — all of which mirrored the issues I frequently address in performing artists.
What stood out was how divers launch into their dive from a place of constrained force — the board or platform — before entering through the water. The rapid deceleration as they enter into the water puts a high demand on shoulder integrity and scapular stability.
By drawing on handstand training drills and flexibility-focused exercises I use with circus artists, we explored ways to enhance shoulder stability, reduce discomfort, and improve overall movement efficiency.
It was also a joy to visit a Irem Eliassen clinic in the city centre as well. Sharing insights across performing arts medicine physiotherapy in different countries only deepened my appreciation for how movement, injury, and performance interconnect globally. also had my first experience trying gyrotonics as well !!!
Best of luck to the Norwegian divers heading to the European Championships next week — such a pleasure to work alongside their Coaches and athletes!!
