Trampwall Exercise And Gait And Balance: A Case Report Of A Circus Performer

Circus performers are underrepresented in the literature despite having a high incidence of injuries. These athletes are experts in balance and acrobatic movements. These movements are performed in up to 14 shows per week, in addition to their practice time. The high loads and volumes during training explain injuries, however, there is little known about the unique and specific movements these athletes perform. One apparatus, the Trampwall, consists of performers bouncing off the trampoline and running up the wall repeatedly. Afterwards, athletes have reported feelings of dizziness. Investigating how performers move after practicing Trampwall may offer insight to how this movement alters everyday motion. PURPOSE: This case report is an initial investigation of how acute effects of Trampwall training may influence gait and balance METHODS: A professional circus performer (n = 1; male; age: 36 years; mass: 75 kg; height: 1.78 m) completed the gait protocol before and after a 30 second Trampwall routine. Gait was recorded with markerless Theia3d. The performer completed 5 trials of a fast but comfortable walk and a comfortable jog both before and after a 30 second Trampwall “running the wall” protocol. RESULTS: Walking: Step width increased by 0.03 m (pre: 0.13 + 0.02 m, post: 0.16 + 0.01 m). Step length remained unchanged (pre: 0.91 + 0.02 m, post:0.91 + 0.02 m). Running: Step width remained unchanged (pre: 0.13 + 0.02 m, post: 0.12 + m). Step length decreased by 0.16 m (pre: 1.24 + 0.10 m, post: 1.08 + 0.08 m). CONCLUSION: These preliminary data suggest that Trampwall exercise may acutely alter balance in gait. The increase in step width during walking may reflect a wider base of support used to maintain balance. The decrease in step length during running may also represent an adjustment for stability. This highlights the need to fully investigate these movements and athletes to understand how acrobatic training alters the biomechanics of circus performers in daily life. Supported by: UNLV Sports Innovation Initiative - Catalyst Grants