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.

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, in front of my parents. That chance was taken away.

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.

From my experience, 99% of those I trained with — in the Ukrainian National Team and Cirque du Soleil — dealt with shoulder pain at some point.

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. Unlike the hip joint, the shoulder relies heavily on muscles and tendons to keep everything in place.

How Did I Get Injured?

My shoulder injury occurred during a performance in Cirque du Soleil. I performed in the High-Bar act in the show Alegria. We were doing our tricks 8 times a week, 35 times a month, more than 350 times a year. For years.

At the beginning of my journey, my catching technique was bad. One trick in particular gave 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

I finished my performance, then went straight to the physio team. They ran movement tests and applied ice to my shoulder.

The next day, I got an MRI. The result: a SLAP tear — the upper part of the labrum was torn where the biceps tendon connects.

The doctors' conclusion: if the pain didn't interfere with my work, I could keep performing. So I kept working for two more years.

Surgery

At some point, the company decided I needed surgery. The timing was terrible. In four weeks, we were supposed to perform in Kyiv. During one show, I strained my abdominal muscle. Now I had two sources of pain. I had to give in.

I was given a choice — if I could find a qualified doctor in my country, I could recover at home. Being home made the tough recovery feel more like a break.

When I first met Dr. Ivan Andreevich Zasadnyuk, I could tell he had deep knowledge, real professionalism, and a passion for innovation. I got tickets for the doctor so he could see the show and understand the kind of work I needed to return to.

Two options: Option 1 — fix the labrum with 4–5 small screws (good enough for everyday life). Option 2 — detach the biceps from the labrum and reattach it to the humerus with a biodegradable bolt (stronger, built for athletic performance). I chose Option 2.

My Rehabilitation Process

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

Phase 1 (0–6 weeks): reduce pain and swelling, maintain mobility in elbow, wrist, and hand. The goal was to adapt to life with one active hand. The more I moved, the more my arm moved unconsciously — which sped up recovery.

Phase 2 (6–12 weeks): gradually increase shoulder mobility, begin strengthening the shoulder muscles. Finally, the sling came off. Freedom. One of my biggest motivations was football — standing on the sidelines watching my friends play while I couldn't. Pure torture — but also very motivating.

Phase 3 (12–16 weeks): regain full shoulder range of motion, strengthen muscles for daily activities. I went back to work at a fitness club. Having gym equipment everywhere motivated me to squeeze in recovery exercises whenever I could. I also got deeply into anatomy — curious about how the bolts in my shoulder worked.

Phase 4 (16–24 weeks): fully recover strength and endurance, gradually return to full athletic activity. I returned to the gymnastics hall. The first few sessions came with pain. 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.

Phase 5 (24 weeks and beyond): This phase was delayed for 4 long years. In 2014, Cirque du Soleil's Alegria was closed. In 2018, Alegria was revived 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.

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.

One thing I learned through every injury — shoulder, knee, back — is that the recovery principle is the same: restore mobility first, then activate, then build strength. If back pain is part of your story too, the Back Mobility Challenge follows this exact approach for the spine.

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

FAQ

What is a SLAP tear?

A SLAP tear is damage to the upper part of the labrum — the cartilage ring inside your shoulder joint — at the point where the biceps tendon connects. It's common in athletes who do a lot of overhead or catching movements.

Is shoulder surgery always necessary for a SLAP tear?

Not always. In this case, the injury was managed with physiotherapy for two years before surgery became necessary. The decision depends on the severity of the tear and how much it interferes with daily activity or athletic performance.

How long does shoulder surgery recovery take?

In this case, the full recovery took about 6 months, moving through 5 phases: early rehab, initial active rehab, intermediate rehab, late rehab and return to sport, and finally full return to performance.

What was the biggest lesson from this injury?

Not everything can be solved with strength. When technique breaks down, forcing through with raw power often makes things worse. Understanding the body — and respecting it — matters more than pushing harder.

Keep Reading

• How I Tore My ACL — another serious injury, another recovery — the mental and physical lessons are the same
• Why You Should NOT Do Rehabilitation Alone — the framework for recovery that works for any injury
• Injury Doesn't Come From Nowhere — what leads to injuries before they actually happen
• Why Your Body Compensates — And How to Fix It — the compensation cycle that leads to new injuries
• The Back Mobility Vitamin — rebuilding daily movement after a break from sport