The Statistics That Should Concern Us All

The numbers paint a sobering picture. Research published in the peer-reviewed journal Circus: Arts, Life, and Sciences found that even in professional settings with trained instructors, aerial arts generate 13.70 injuries per 1,000 hours of class time, with 4.13 requiring medical attention per 1,000 hours. These aren't just minor bruises—we're talking about injuries serious enough to require professional medical care.

This summer alone, an 18-year-old trapeze artist performing with Circus Smirkus suffered an injury after being involved in a "rigging incident," falling between 10 and 20 feet from the air while using aerial silks and suspected of having a spinal cord injury. This occurred during a professional performance with trained riggers and safety protocols in place.

If injuries happen in professional settings, imagine the risks when proper instruction, equipment, and safety measures are absent.

The Anatomy of Aerial Injuries

Most common injuries include the ankle, knee, low back, shoulder and elbow. These often result from:

• Improper warm-up or conditioning
• Incorrect body positioning during wraps and sequences
• Attempting advanced moves without proper progression
• Inadequate grip strength or technique
• Poor landing mechanics

Skin abrasions or bruising occurred in at least eleven injury incidents in recent studies, seven of which were on the silks and resulted in "silks burn." While these might seem minor, they indicate fundamental technique problems that could lead to more serious injuries.

If you have ever wondered why we maintain strict dress code policies, require thorough warm-ups and cool-downs, make students confirm their wraps with instructors before attempting any drop, follow specific lesson plans at each level of instruction, and don't allow grip spray for beginner students—these injury statistics are exactly why. Every policy we have exists as a direct response to documented injury patterns in aerial arts. What might seem like overly cautious rules are actually evidence-based safety protocols developed from understanding exactly how and why aerial injuries occur.

The Home Setup Catastrophe Waiting to Happen

Perhaps most alarming is the trend of home aerial setups. We regularly see parents hanging silks from:

• Tree branches
• Playground equipment
• Swing set frames
• Home ceiling beams designed for light fixtures

Here's what many don't realize: For human or acrobatic rigging, a safety factor of 10 is recommended. The standard calculation is 200 pounds multiplied by 10, meaning your structure and attachment point must support a dynamic load of 2,000 pounds.

Your child's swing set? It's designed for maybe 200-300 pounds of gentle swinging motion, not the exponential forces created by aerial drops and dynamic movement. That sturdy-looking tree branch? It may hold your child's weight while climbing, but aerial work creates forces that can exceed 8-10 times body weight during drops and catches.

The Crash Mat Myth

Even with "proper" rigging, most home setups lack adequate crash mats. Here's the reality: serious injuries can occur from falls of just 2-3 feet if landing is improper. Professional studios use specific mats with tested thickness and density ratings. Your yoga mat or even a gymnastics mat won't provide adequate protection.

Why Social Media Can't Teach Safety

That stunning Instagram video showing a perfect aerial sequence? It doesn't show:

• The months of conditioning that preceded that move
• The specific warm-up routine performed beforehand
• The instructor spotting required to safely execute a complex move initially
• The safety brief given before attempting the sequence
• The multiple failed attempts and corrections needed to get it right
• The crash mats positioned strategically below

Social media shows the highlight reel, never the safety net.

The Professional Difference

When you learn from a certified instructor, you receive:

Progressive Skill Building: Each movement builds systematically on the previous one, ensuring your body is prepared for the demands ahead.

Individual Assessment: An instructor evaluates your strength, flexibility, and readiness for each new skill individually.

Safety Spotting: Trained instructors can physically assist and protect you during learning phases.

Equipment Knowledge: Understanding of proper rigging, fabric care, and equipment limitations.

Injury Prevention: Recognition of fatigue, improper form, or dangerous conditions before they lead to injury.

Emergency Protocols: Immediate response capability if something goes wrong.

Our Responsibility as a Community

This isn't about discouraging aerial arts—quite the opposite. We want everyone to experience the joy, strength, and artistry of aerial work. But we want you to experience it safely, with proper foundation and support.

Students Should Never Teach Other Students: We strictly prohibit students from teaching other students in our studio, and this is absolutely critical outside our walls too. Even our most advanced students lack the training to properly assess another person's readiness for specific moves, spot dangerous technique flaws, or respond to emergencies. Teaching requires specialized education in anatomy, injury prevention, progression sequences, and risk assessment that takes years to develop. When students attempt to teach friends or family members—especially in home settings without proper equipment or emergency protocols—they're putting others at serious risk regardless of their good intentions.

The Liability Reality: Students who teach others also assume enormous legal and moral responsibility for any injuries that occur. Professional instructors carry liability insurance and have training in emergency response. Student "teachers" have neither the coverage nor the expertise to handle serious accidents.

Our video courses exist as supplements to in-person instruction, never replacements. They're designed for reviewing techniques you've already learned with proper supervision, not for learning new skills independently. This is why we ask that these videos never be shared with individuals who haven't received direct instruction from us.

Moving Forward Safely

If you or someone you know is considering aerial arts:

1. Choose a reputable studio with certified instructors and well planned out safety protocols and rigging standards
2. Commit to the process—there are no shortcuts to safe aerial work
3. Avoid home practice of new skills without instructor approval
4. Report any pain or discomfort immediately to your instructor
5. Remember that progression takes time—embrace the journey

The aerial arts are magnificent, transformative, and deeply rewarding. They deserve to be learned with the respect, patience, and professional guidance that keep them safe. Your body, your art, and your future self will thank you for choosing the path of proper instruction.

At Eternal Aerial Arts, your safety is our top priority. Every class, every progression, every new skill is designed with your wellbeing at the center. Because the most beautiful flight is always a safe one.

Have questions about our safety protocols or training methodology? We'd love to discuss how we can support your aerial journey. Contact us at support@eternalaerial.com