My Shoulder Injury Journey: Lessons Learned from Cirque du Soleil

When I woke up from anesthesia, the world was a blur. I reached for my phone and started calling my family, telling them about the "end of the world" and complaining about how thirsty I was. It was the early days after my shoulder surgery in Kyiv. At the same time, Cirque du Soleil's Alegria had just arrived in Ukraine.

As the anesthesia wore off, pain set in, and so did a deep sense of loss. I had traveled across North America and Europe, performing in 47 cities in Canada 🇨🇦, 49 in the US 🇺🇸, and 42 across Europe 🇪🇺. I had performed for 3 million people, but I was just weeks away from performing in my home country, and most importantly, in front of my parents. That chance was taken away.

In this article, I want to share my shoulder injury journey—how I dealt with the injury, surgery, and recovery. If you're experiencing shoulder pain, this might help. And if you're an athlete—it's a must-read.

Shoulder Injuries: Common and Costly

Shoulder injuries are among the most common, especially for athletes and active people. Around 21% of the population experiences shoulder pain, and 40% of those suffer for at least a year. In the US alone, shoulder pain treatments cost about $39 billion annually. Gymnasts are no strangers to shoulder pain. From my experience, 99% of those I trained with, both in the Ukrainian National Team and Cirque du Soleil, dealt with it at some point. So, it was only a matter of time before I joined this "elite" group.

Understanding the Shoulder Joint

Think of your shoulder joint like a baseball on a stick (your arm) that fits into a baseball glove (your shoulder blade). This structure allows your arm to move in all directions, but it's fragile compared to other joints. In contrast to the hip joint, where a ligament ties the "ball" to the "socket," the shoulder relies heavily on muscles and tendons to keep everything in place. Remove those muscles, and your arm would literally fall off. So, it's no surprise that shoulder injuries are so common in sports like gymnastics.

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How Did I Get Injured?

My shoulder injury occurred during a performance in Cirque du Soleil. For those who don’t know, Cirque du Soleil is like the Apple or Facebook of the entertainment world, producing breathtaking acrobatic performances for millions worldwide.

I performed in the High-Bar act in the show Alegria. To summarize it briefly: Gymnasts fly 12 meters in the air, performing insane tricks, and others catch them mid-air to bring them back to safety. Watch this video to see what I’m talking about.

At that time, no one else in the world was doing the same act we were. We were the only people on Earth doing these crazy tricks with our bodies. I still remember after our first training session, I thought, "Whoa... is it even possible to pull off stunts like this?" But over time, I got used to it, doing these tricks 8 times a week, 35 times a month, and more than 350 times a year. For years... It’s important to understand that doing these beautiful performances didn’t just put a strain on our bodies—it pushed them to the limit.

At the beginning of my journey, my catching technique was bad. One trick in particular caused me trouble, so I decided to use brute strength to fix it—big mistake. On one performance, I felt a sharp pain, followed by a cold sensation in my arm. I managed to catch my partner, but not my own bicep. I learned a hard lesson: not everything can be solved with strength—sometimes you need to think.

Diagnosis and Treatment

In every Cirque du Soleil show, there are two physiotherapists who are always ready to help if someone gets hurt. I was able to finish my performance, but right after the show, I went straight to the physio team. They did some movement tests on me and applied ice to my shoulder.

Why do they use ice for injuries?

Ice is used to reduce pain and swelling. Pain is annoying, but swelling can make the injury worse and take longer to heal. Ice cools the injured area, slows down blood flow, and helps reduce inflammation.

What are these tests, and why are they important?

Movement tests are one of the most important tools for physiotherapists, doctors, and experienced trainers. For injuries, these tests help figure out the type of injury, how serious it is, and what the recovery plan should be. For healthy people, these tests help check your physical condition, find your strengths and weaknesses, and create a personal training plan to track your progress.

Here are the tests that Cirque du Soleil physiotherapists used on me. They are commonly done for shoulder injuries:

Some of the tests showed that there was an injury, so the next day, I had an MRI to figure out exactly what was hurting and why. The MRI results showed that I had something called a SLAP tear, which means the upper part of the labrum (a piece of cartilage in the shoulder joint) was torn where the biceps tendon connects.

Whoa, slow down! Let’s break that down.

Let me explain it simply. The biceps, that cool muscle in your arm, has two parts. It starts from one point on the forearm and then splits into two sections. One short section connects to a part of the shoulder blade, while the long section dives deep into the shoulder joint and attaches to the labrum, a cartilage ring that helps make the shoulder socket deeper. Watch this video below for a better understanding: 👇

My quick takeaway: The way the shoulder is built allows for a wide range of movement, but the biceps muscle isn’t really made to lift super heavy weights. That’s what the latissimus dorsi (the big back muscle) is better for.

So, luckily, my biceps didn’t fully tear off—it just partially tore the labrum (the cartilage it’s attached to). This kind of injury is pretty common for athletes. I got lucky.

The doctors’ conclusion was simple: If the pain didn’t get in the way of my work, I could keep doing my job, which involved catching people mid-air. They recommended conservative treatment, including physiotherapy and gradual strengthening exercises. But if the pain started affecting my work or if I took a long break, surgery would be the next step.

The injury was moderate. It hurt, but didn’t require immediate surgery. So, I kept working for two years 🤷‍♂️. Our tour was split into 10-week sections. The toughest parts were the first two weeks and the last two. At the start, my muscles weren’t in shape after the break, so they didn’t support my shoulder as well. By the end, my muscles were tired. That’s when my shoulder hurt the most.

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Surgery

At some point, the company decided I needed surgery. I didn’t agree. It was terrible timing—we were in Estonia, and the tour was finally getting close to home. In four weeks, we were supposed to perform in Kyiv. I was working as usual, so I still don’t get why they pushed for the surgery. What I realized was that in big companies, decisions don’t always make sense.

Of course, I fought to keep working—I really wanted to perform in Ukraine. But between performances, we kept having meetings where they tried to convince me to go for the surgery. This drained me. I wasn’t recovering well, and during one show, I strained my abdominal muscle. Now, I had two sources of pain. I couldn’t keep working and had to give in. Later, I thought about how closely the mind and body are connected when you’re pushing your limits. Anyway, let’s move on.

Normally, Cirque du Soleil artists were operated on in Montreal, but this time they gave me a choice. If I could find a doctor in my country who could do the surgery, I could recover at home. I liked this new rule. In 2013, we were busy building our family—my daughter was one year old, and we were finishing renovations in our apartment. Being home made the tough recovery process feel more like a nice break.

Who did I trust to cut me?

When I first met Dr. Ivan Andreevich Zasadnyuk, I could tell he had deep knowledge, professionalism, and a passion for innovation. He was a candidate of medical sciences and a practicing surgeon. How did I know? His office walls were filled with European certificates and diplomas. The examination process was similar to what I had experienced in Canada and the U.S. I knew I was in good hands.

The clinic and doctor were in Kyiv, and Alegria was coming to Kyiv soon. I got tickets for the doctor so he could understand the kind of work I had to do after surgery. After the show, we met, and he explained the surgery plan. Here’s what he said: the MRI didn’t clearly show the state of the labrum (shoulder cartilage).

We would start with arthroscopy to see the joint from the inside. If the labrum and joint looked good, they would fix the labrum with 4–5 small screws. But if the labrum was badly torn, they would make an extra cut and change the attachment point of the long head of the biceps. They would detach the biceps from the labrum and screw it into the humerus with a large bio-degradable bolt. This is the sports version of the surgery. It’s stronger, and the arm can handle more load.

If I wanted to return and keep performing, the second option was more reliable. If I was planning to retire and work a desk job, the first option would be enough. Even though I already knew the show was closing, I said I planned to return—and I wasn’t wrong. The surgery was scheduled, and we moved forward.

How the Surgery Went?

By sheer coincidence, my surgery lined up with the arrival of Alegría by Cirque du Soleil in Kyiv. I invited my father from Donetsk to see the show and help me recover after surgery. By the way, Kyiv is 780 km from Donetsk.

Friends from the show got us a hotel room, and while my father enjoyed the service at the Premier Palace, I was a bit nervous. I had a mix of emotions. It was my first (and hopefully last) surgery, so I felt both scared—"Ahh, they’re going to cut me open!"—and curious—"Wow, they’re going to fix me with screws like a robot, cool!" I was sad that I couldn’t perform for my parents and friends, but happy they would see the show live.

It was a Wednesday. In the morning, I went to the hospital, changed into a gown, and headed to the operating room. It was a bright, high-tech room with jazz music playing. I lay down, got an IV, and they started asking how I was feeling. But I was out before I could answer the second question...

I woke up in the recovery room, extremely thirsty. My head felt foggy, and my thoughts seemed to be leaking out of my ears onto the pillow. It was kind of like a hangover, but without the headache. I was so surprised at what had happened—I remembered them asking me questions, and then suddenly I was waking up in a different room. I had no idea how long it had been or how things had gone. It was really fascinating.

I wanted to call my parents, so I started searching for my phone. When I saw it, I tried to reach for it, but as I moved, I felt pain. Then I noticed my left arm—it was in a sling, held tight to my body. That’s when I realized the surgery was done, and I’d better not move my arm too much.

About 30 minutes later, a nurse came in. She had a kind smile and eyes that made me feel calm and safe. She checked on how I was feeling, told me the surgery went well, gave me some meds, and asked me not to move my arm. She said the doctor would come by soon. Then they brought me some food :)

When the doctor came in, I was already feeling more clear-headed and could focus. He explained that the surgery followed the second plan: they made a small cut and changed the attachment point of my biceps tendon.

They used one bio-degradable screw that would dissolve and turn into bone over time. There were stitches, and my arm was in a soft sling. The main message was: as soon as the inflammation starts going down, I should begin moving my hand little by little, starting with my fingers and wrist. The goal was to avoid muscle atrophy. "You can rest for a couple of hours and then go home," the doctor said. The surgery was over. Now, it was time for rehab.

Ok, What Does Rehabilitation Mean?

Rehabilitation is the process of restoring your physical, mental, or emotional health after an injury. The goal is to help you get back to normal life and regain your abilities. Clear, right? Let’s get to work.

After shoulder surgery, here’s what I needed to regain:

1️⃣ Joint Mobility: Getting your arm to move freely in all directions, just like when you were a kid.

• Lifting your arm forward - Flexion
• Moving your arm backward - Extension
• Raising your arm sideways - Abduction
• Bringing your arm to your body - Adduction
• Rotating your arm outward - External Rotation
• Rotating your arm inward - Internal Rotation
• Making circular arm motions - Circumduction

2️⃣ Muscle Strength: Regaining the ability to push, pull, throw, catch, hit, and support yourself on your arms without pain or discomfort.

In Daily Life:

• Lifting items (like grocery bags)
• Opening doors
• Brushing teeth
• Washing dishes
• Tying shoes
• Combing hair
• Turning the steering wheel in a car

In Sports:

• Lifting weights
• Throwing a ball (like in basketball)
• Striking in tennis, badminton, or boxing
• Swimming (with arm strokes)
• Doing push-ups and pull-ups
• Serving a volleyball or baseball
• Catching flying gymnasts 12 meters up

I could say my rehab started on the first day because I wasn’t just lying around in the hospital. My arm was in a soft sling, but I still had to dress, leave the hospital, and get into a taxi. Naturally, I made small movements with my arm, which was part of the doctor’s strategy—start moving it as soon as possible. I wasn’t in pain, thanks to painkillers, and this early movement helped me mentally realize, "It’s not so bad."

The day after surgery, my father and I went to the show. I cried. I was happy to be part of the show, but sad that my dad couldn’t see me perform. But I also felt inspired, a warm feeling in my chest, a burning desire to keep pushing forward toward my dreams, no matter what.

After the show, we went backstage, and I introduced my father to my teammates. We looked at them like superheroes from Marvel—they had just performed miracles on stage, flying through the air, and now we could touch them and confirm they were real. This is the magic of the show. That night, I fully understood the importance of my work: we don’t just perform tricks, we inspire people.

Three days after surgery, I met with the doctor for a check-up. The morning in Kyiv was beautiful, with sprinklers washing the dust from the roads, cleaning away the sticky residue of the past, preparing the city for a new day. I was still riding the emotions from the show, and my mood was determined.

The doctor checked my stitches, asked how I felt, looked over the scans again, and said the surgery had gone well. Now, everything was in my hands. It was time to return home to Donetsk and start the full rehabilitation process.

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My Rehabilitation Process

My recovery took about 6 months, split into 5 phases:

Phase 1️⃣ Early Rehabilitation

Phase 2️⃣ Initial Active Rehabilitation

Phase 3️⃣ Intermediate Rehabilitation

Phase 4️⃣ Late Rehabilitation & Preparation for Return to Sports

Phase 5️⃣ Full Return to Sports

 

Phase 1️⃣ Early Rehabilitation (0-6 weeks post-surgery)

Goals 🎯

• Reduce pain and swelling.
• Maintain mobility in the elbow, wrist, and hand.
• Gently begin restoring shoulder mobility.

Methods 📝

1. Immobilization:
   • Using a sling or shoulder brace to limit movement and protect the operated area (usually 4-6 weeks).
   • The arm is kept in slight external rotation and some abduction.
2. Passive Exercises:
   • Gentle, passive shoulder movements performed by a physiotherapist.
   • Exercises for the elbow, wrist, and hand to maintain mobility and prevent muscle atrophy.
3. Pain and Swelling Management:
   • Applying ice and using anti-inflammatory medications.
   • Gentle massage to reduce swelling.

The goal of this stage was to adapt to life with one active hand: taking showers, playing with my daughter, driving a car with an automatic transmission, and doing household chores. The more I moved, the more my arm moved unconsciously, speeding up the recovery. Yes, every movement hurt at this stage, but as long as I didn’t fear the pain, it became easier day by day, and the pain lessened.

The arm in the sling was in a bent position, and I was shocked at how quickly it adapted to that position and refused to straighten. This happened within a week. Muscle atrophy occurred at an unbelievable speed, leaving me stunned. So every time I showered, I’d remove the sling and force my elbow to straighten, despite the pain, just to feel some progress and let my brain know that we’d get through this — no panic needed.

Phase 2️⃣ Initial Active Rehabilitation (6-12 weeks post-surgery)

Goals 🎯

• Gradually increase shoulder joint mobility.
• Begin strengthening the shoulder muscles.

Methods 📝

1. Passive and Active Exercises:
   • Start with passive and move to active exercises to increase the range of motion.
   • Slowly add flexibility and mobility exercises for the shoulder.
2. Light Resistance Exercises:
   • Use exercises with light resistance to strengthen the rotator cuff muscles and scapular stabilizers.
   • Include isometric exercises for the shoulder joint and biceps.
3. Pain and Inflammation Control:
   • Apply ice after exercises to reduce inflammation and pain.
   • Gradually reduce anti-inflammatory medications as the condition improves.

Finally, it was time to remove the sling and begin restoring mobility. I had a follow-up with my doctor, and everything looked good. They took out the stitches and removed the sling. Freedom!

The pain had shifted from sharp to a dull ache, so it was time to start moving my arm again. One of the biggest motivations for me was my love for football. I remember standing on the sidelines, watching my friends play while I couldn’t. Usually, I’d miss games while on tour, but now I was so close, and still couldn’t play—pure torture. But it was also motivating.

Like it often happens, I rushed things a bit. One day, they didn’t have enough players, so I decided to play. I thought, "I’ll just give it a try, carefully jog with the ball." You know what I mean. My shoulder still hurt a bit from running and jumping, but I adapted within 15 minutes, and everything seemed fine.

Then I collided with a big guy, easily weighing around 100 kg. It felt like a train had hit me. I felt sharp pain in my arm and thought, "That's it, all the bolts flew out. I’m definitely going to need surgery again.”

A few days later, I worked up the courage to call my doctor and explain what had happened. The big question was—could the bolt have come loose, or the biceps have torn again? The doctor chuckled, which made me relax. His response was, "No, Oleksiy. Everything is securely in place. You can continue with your rehabilitation.”

Phase 3️⃣ Intermediate Rehabilitation (12-16 weeks post-surgery)

Goals 🎯

• Regain full shoulder movement range.
• Strengthen muscles to return to daily activities.

Methods 📝

1. Active and Assisted-Active Exercises:
   • Exercises to increase shoulder mobility, like stretching and moving the arm.
   • Resistance bands and light dumbbells were used to build up muscle strength.
2. Functional Exercises:
   • Movements that mimic everyday tasks or athletic actions.
   • Balancing and stabilizing the joint during more complex movements.
3. Increasing Load:
   • Gradually increasing weights and resistance in exercises.
   • Paying close attention to form to avoid re-injury.

At this stage, I went back to work at Fitness Club. Having gym equipment everywhere motivated me to squeeze in recovery exercises whenever I could. Around this time, I got really into anatomy because I was curious about how the bolts in my shoulder worked. This curiosity helped me better understand which exercises were best for recovery and what to avoid to prevent another injury.

Weekly meetings with my physiotherapist were great for my shoulder and gave me more to think about. I also started recording my exercises on video. It was tough to find recovery exercises online, so I thought it would be cool to share my journey.

Phase 4️⃣ Late Rehabilitation and Preparation for Return to Sport (16-24 weeks post-surgery)

Goals 🎯

• Fully recover strength and endurance in shoulder muscles.
• Gradually return to full sports activity and training.

Methods 📝

1. Strength Training:
   • I started working on building muscle strength using free weights, machines, and exercises that helped me regain full function.
   • Special focus was on the muscles around my shoulder and back, as these helped stabilize the joint.
2. Plyometric Exercises:
   • These are explosive movements like jumps and throws that helped me develop power and quickness.
   • I practiced movements that required me to push and pull quickly, getting my shoulder used to high-speed actions again.
3. Sport-Specific Exercises:
   • I began mimicking the specific movements from my sport, like catching and lifting gymnasts.
   • Each movement was carefully practiced under the guidance of my physical therapist and coach.

At this stage, I returned to the gymnastics hall where my Cirque du Soleil journey had begun. Gymnastics was the perfect sport to test my shoulder because we spend at least 50% of our training time on our hands. It was the ideal way to rebuild my confidence and ensure my shoulder could handle any stress.

As with each phase, the first few training sessions came with pain and discomfort. I remember hanging from the bar for the first time and almost crying because it felt like my shoulder was being pulled apart.

And walking on my hands felt like stepping on an old creaky floor. But after a few sessions, the pain lessened, and my confidence returned. The moment I completed a dismount with a double backflip, I knew I was ready to return to the show.

Phase 5️⃣ Return to Sport (24 weeks and beyond post-surgery)

Goals 🎯

• Maintain optimal physical condition.
• Prevent re-injury.

Methods 📝

1. Maintenance Training:
   • Continuing with strength and functional workouts.
   • Regular flexibility and mobility exercises.
2. Monitoring:
   • Regular check-ups with a physiotherapist or sports doctor.
   • Keeping an eye on any signs of pain or discomfort and addressing them quickly.

This phase was delayed for 4 long years. In 2014, Cirque du Soleil's Alegria show was closed. There was no show to return to. Instead of a world tour, I got a “tour” around Ukraine due to the conflict in Donetsk and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Gymnastics helped restore my shoulder 100% — I could handle heavy loads again. But could I manage the intense overloading from catching flyers? That question remained unanswered for three years. Luckily, in 2018, Alegria was revived by Cirque du Soleil, and I was invited back.

My shoulder held up. Thank you, doctor. Thank you to all the physiotherapists I worked with. And thank you to myself for pushing through the tedious recovery process. Case closed.

Please remember, this is just my personal experience, meant to offer extra insights and inspiration. A rehabilitation plan is a complex, personalized process that should always be adjusted based on individual needs and guided by your doctor and physiotherapist.

Going through surgery and recovery was an experience that proved invaluable for my second tour, but that’s a story for another time. I want to leave you with this: an injury is not the end of the road; it’s the start of a new journey.

Recovery teaches patience, builds mental toughness, and helps you develop a deeper respect for your body. In the end, real strength isn’t about never falling—it’s about always getting back up, no matter how many times you’re knocked down.

Take care of yourself, and remember: you’re always capable of more.