Each speaker was tasked with identifying the one critical insight they believe is most vital for training or clinical care. Here are some of the highlights!

Let’s start by addressing the most common fear when artists seek care, being asked to do a “hard stop” of all training, and the “all-or-nothing” approach to injury. Dr. Jennifer Zellers assured us that for the best tendon rehab “We probably shouldn’t be telling our circus artists to just stop doing circus. Often there are ways we can strategically dose activities for the right amount of load so they’re still training and performing as part of their rehab.” This sentiment is echoed by Hayley Ward who champions the concepts of movement optimism and physical literacy as essential tools for keeping circus and tennis athletes in a position where they can build confidence and see the journey to high-performance rather than sitting out on the sidelines. This shift toward smarter, more integrated training is further supported by flexibility specialist Dan Van Zandt who argues that the traditional separation between strength and flexibility is entirely artificial. “Flexibility and strength are part of the same essential practice which ultimately is progressive loading.” When we treat the body as a unified system rather than a collection of separate boxes, training becomes more efficient and works towards an artist’s longevity.

The message from these first few speakers is clear. Keep moving!

Expertise also may require an eye for clinical nuances that are frequently overlooked either because of cultural norms or due to blind spots in our training. Dr. Brooke Winder suggests we may need to learn to bypass the cultural discomfort of discussing pelvic health by integrating screening questions directly into intake forms. This will open the door to conversation, help broach the topic, and signal it is acceptable to talk about pelvic concerns. Dr. Linda Blustein, highlights an educational blindspot by correcting a misconception about hypermobility and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS): “You don’t have to faint” to be struggling with autonomic dysfunction. Signs as simple as fidgeting in line can be vital diagnostic clues as this may be a coping mechanism to improve systemic circulation.

Marlo Fisken wants us to remember that physical insights are only as effective as the language used to deliver them. As an artist and instructor she wants to highlight that clinicians are educators whose words change the way artists think about their own bodies and “come out in the way patients then talk to their own clients,” giving every clinical interaction a lasting ripple effect across the community.

Finally, we must recognize that the onus of wellness cannot fall solely on the performer. Dr. Laura Adams advocates for a shared ecosystem where artists, coaches, and care providers work together. Performance excellence and psychological wellbeing are mutually reinforcing. When we move away from isolated silos—whether in training, diagnostics, or advocacy—we create a culture that is not only more efficient but more respectful of the artist’s long-term sustainability.

These contributions represent a call to direct action, asking us to work together for the future of circus medicine and performance.

Join me in learing more from these brilliant speakers who believe in optimizing artist performance everyday the studio and the clinic and all the way to the stage.