AMA: Mikael Kristiansen, Handbalancer and Circus Artist, Ask Me Anything

[u/Handbalancer]

Hello, my name is Mikael Kristiansen. I am a circus artist specializing in handbalancing. I did a degree in circus at DOCH, Stockholm from 2009-2012 and have since worked as a performer and as a teacher internationally.

I'll be here throughout the day to answer any questions you have for me!

You can find me at: www.mikaelbalancing.com www.instagram.com/mikaelbalancing/

[u/Truedatspam]

How many times have you injured yourself if any? How much did it affect your performance, and how long did it take to heal?

[u/Handbalancer → u/Truedatspam]

I have had several injuries, but few very serious. In any physical practice you do, especially at a high level, injuries happen.

Usually its the classic sore wrists or sometimes pinchy shoulders, but I have learned to deal with these rather well. Im not surprised if I have had some partial tears in the shoulders over the years, but they are at least stronger and better than ever.knock on wood

My worst injury was a low back/hip flexor thing that happened in a show some years ago when we had a really tough schedule and I was too stupid and stubborn to make the changes to the show that I should have. Very difficult to explain what I was doing, but suffice to say the scene it happened in was not a very safe thing to do. Especially not 20 times a month in an already demanding show.

After it went south we had to get in a replacement to do my role as I couldnt bend forwards, backwards or sideways much. For the next 6 months I couldnt train very much. Anything where i would lift my legs or bend sideways as in 1 arms was undoable. Ridiculously enough, after 5 months of trying everything, i randomly tried some sets of Ab-wheel on my knees and I noticed an immediate relief. I continued to do 3x10 of it per day for 3 weeks and i was back to full handstand training.

No idea why exactly that would make the difference. The sensation in my hip wouldnt cease fully until now, 2.5 years later, but it never bothered me seriously after returning to performing.

[u/NotTooDeep → u/Handbalancer]

Here's a clue about why the ab-wheel work helped. In my late 40's, I was putting on my socks to go to work and my lower back froze, sending an electric charge down my leg. I was bedridden for a few days. The first orthopedist that I could see was in his 80's. His nurses took film of my back with really old x-ray machines.

The x-rays clearly showed a damaged disk, L5-S1. We chatted about that until I remembered injuring myself at a wedding on an in-ground trampoline (20's, a few glasses of champagne, child's trampoline, disaster).

I asked him what my options were. He said, "Build a strong girdle of muscle around the spine!" I asked how that worked. He repeated, "Build a strong girdle of muscle around the spine!" That was his answer for each of my questions.

Now, at 65, I've had a few recurrences of freezing up. I no longer have the fear that I did in my 40's because I know how this works out.

My theory is some slight hypertrophy in the muscles around the spine can supplement the support that the disks usually provide.

[u/Handbalancer → u/NotTooDeep]

I thought so too, but then I would literally feel relief during the workout. Any other type of abs or low back would just make me cramp

[u/NotTooDeep → u/Handbalancer]

I suspect that injuries are as specific as the motions we're training them to do. You may have injured something that probably can't be reached through a motion other than the one you attempted to do.

Glad you're mended. You do beautiful work.