Skip to content
FREE SHIPPING ON ALL DOMESTIC ORDERS $35+
FREE SHIPPING ON ALL US ORDERS $35+
Applied Anatomy of Aerial Arts: An Illustrated Guide to Strength, Flexibility, Training, and Injury Prevention - Paperback | Diverse Reads

Applied Anatomy of Aerial Arts: An Illustrated Guide to Strength, Flexibility, Training, and Injury Prevention

Availability:
in stock, ready to be shipped
Save 5% Save 5%
$19.95
$19.95 - $19.95
$19.95
$18.99
$18.99 - $18.99
$18.99
An illustrated guide to anatomy and biomechanics for aerialists who want to optimize their performance and train safely

Specifically designed for aerialists—including those who do trapeze, silks, and other aerial arts— Applied Anatomy of Aerial Arts is an invaluable resource for those who want to optimize their performance and train safely.

Using a biomechanical and movement-based approach, Emily Scherb—a physical therapist who specializes in the care, treatment, and education of circus performers—explains the anatomical rationale for progressions of learning and demonstrates simple movements to achieve the coordination, muscular control, strength, and fitness to hang with correct form, how to progress from hanging into a pull up, an inversion, and beyond with a strong center, precise muscle sequencing, and ease of movement.

Aerialists will learn how bones, joints, muscles, and soft tissues allow for specific movements and gain an appreciation for concepts of proximal stability.

This full-color illustrated guide lays a solid foundation for beginners and advanced students with a wealth of insights into their own performance as well as refreshers on fundamentals in warm ups and conditioning. It explains how to structure a training session, how to care for injuries, and best practices for basic self first aid.

ISBN-13: 9781623172169

Media Type: Paperback

Publisher: North Atlantic Books

Publication Date: 08-28-2018

Pages: 208

Product Dimensions: 7.00(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.40(d)

DR. EMILY SCHERB is a physical therapist specializing in the care, treatment, and education of circus performers. The owner of Pure Motion Physical Therapy in Seattle, WA, she is also the Resident Physical Therapist at SANCA, a circus school, where she works with students and staff to keep their bodies healthy. Since 1992 Dr. Scherb has trained, taught, and performed aerial arts around the world; with her love of circus arts and of the circus community, she has dedicated her practice to educating performers of all levels to prevent and recover from injuries through proper movement, balanced strength, and joint motion. Dr. Scherb also lectures nationwide to educate healthcare professionals on the unique challenges of treating and understanding the needs of circus artists. She continues to train on the trapeze in her free time.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments v

Preface ix

Chapter 1 An Aerialist: What You're Made Of 1

Tissues of the Body 2

Types of Muscular Contractions 6

Movement Terminology 8

Chapter 2 Concepts in Aerial Movement: From Your Center Out 15

Starting from Stability 15

Moving with Stability 17

Chapter 3 The Aerial Body: Structure and Function 19

The Core 19

The Spine 19

The Pelvis 24

The Rib Cage and Respiration 25

The Abdominals 26

The Lower Back 29

The Hip 30

The Shoulder Girdle 36

Anatomy beyond the Core 43

Chapter 4 Aerial Basics: Shape and Form 51

Body Positions 51

Chapter 5 How to Hang: Aerial Foundations 59

The Shoulder in Hanging 59

"Engaged Shoulders" 60

"Engaged Shoulders" on Vertical 65

Hanging from the Legs 67

Chapter 6 Understanding Aerial: Basic Skills 69

Ways to Hang 70

Balances 89

Chapter 7 How to Move: Conquering Gravity 95

Climbing 96

Beats 97

Pull-ups to Pullovers 100

Inversions 104

Essential Skills 112

Advanced Skills 117

Chapter 8 How to Train: Staying Injury Free 123

Creating Your Aerial Training Program 123

What Should Training Look Like? 125

Progressing Your Training 127

Important Considerations 128

Stretching 129

Understanding Injury in Aerial Arts 132

Injury Prevention for Aerial Artists 141

Chapter 9 Exercises for Aerialists: Getting Strong and Mobile 147

Hands and Wrists 147

Shoulders 150

Full Body 167

Hips 176

Feet and Ankles 185

Epilogue 189

Index 191

About the Author 197