New research: medical effects of headbanging

[SinisterMinisterX]

http://www.bmj.com/content/337/bmj.a282 ... d=19091761

What is already known on this topic

    Case reports indicate that head banging might cause brain and neck injury

    Head banging to heavy metal is a popular dance form

What this study adds

    The application of biomechanical methods identified a definite risk of mild traumatic brain injury from head banging

    The study helps to explain why metal concert goers often seem dazed, confused, and incoherent

Anyone who's done it knows it stresses your neck. It's easy to do it too hard. Research about long-term effects would be nice.

And you gotta love any experiment which requires plans like: "We randomly selected three songs (“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston, “Hello” by Lionel Ritchie, and “Babe” by Styx) from on-line lists of easy listening and adult oriented rock as musical controls."

 

[Taker]

Winnipeg...SBIT tour 2008... two aging headbangers injure themselves to the point of not making it in to work the next day (sure glad the other one was my boss). Oh, and I had no voice for 4 days... time is a cruel mistress...

No mind or mood altering chemicals involved... just the intensity of a Maiden show...

 

[Crimson Idol]

I always remember when going out to Mosh (the club, not just wandering around the street's moshing ) that the evening was far less painful if I had something to drink first so that I felt 'looser' and didn't notice the neck pain.

There always seems to be some sort of study indicating something about metal .. like the one the other month of "Metal fans at higher risk of suicide" ...

In the headbanging regard though, didn't Dave Mustaine have to go through surgery because of neck injuries from over-headbanging?

 

[Mosh]

I think that was Kerry King. Or King Diamond. One of the two I think.

 

[Night Prowler]

Tom Araya had a neck surgery, and now he can't headbang anymore.

 

[Crimson Idol]

"Mustaine announced he will have to endure surgery on his neck after injuring it during a show on the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival tour."

http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/N ... 0915-2011/

There are many other sources (quick google for Dave Mustaine Surgery Neck got em), doesnt specifically say headbanging in that one.. I think the one I originally read was on UG but I cant be bothered looking for it through the 25 rehashes. Can't really see what else he could've done though.

EDIT: Again, not gone looking for it but I recall there being an interview with him about it (short one) in which he said it was affecting his arm again. I'm gonna have to source these methinks.

Okay here it is: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/gen ... rgery.html

Regarding the nature of his injury, Mustaine said, "It's [caused by] years of headbanging - just doing this [moving head up and down] over the years. I have what's called stenosis - three herniated discs and bone spurs everywhere. It's just a lot of wear and tear over my body over the years touring."

"I know I how I am - I got my hand back after I got injured the first time. The funny thing is it's the same hand and almost the same thing. It's just that it happened once before, went away and now it's back."

 

[Mosh]

Tom Araya had a neck surgery, and now he can't headbang anymore.

That's what I was thinking of. Didn't know Mustaine had it too.  Although from the Big 4 DVD he doesn't seem to head bang too much.

 

[Tron]

I might conduct a study into the likelihood of sweating in the pit, taking examples from metal, pop and hiphop shows 
some of this research... i dunno i think some scientists (id wager these to be mainly sociologists ) have to justify their jobs a bit too much
Im sure nobody was believing headbanging was good for the neck... or the brain rattling around. And news like with Mustaine just shows not much research is needed when theres already treatment for the direct injury's    on another note, i probably get more stress on my neck for my massive bag for college

in BMJ we trust though i suppose

 

[Crimson Idol]

I don't headbang really.. I head "bob" at most. But really, even on the few occasions I have I've found my neck hurt very quickly unless I'd had something to drink.... and sitting hunched over a desk all day still creates more neck pain for me than any amount of headbanging ever has.

 

[Forostar]

I think that was Kerry King. Or King Diamond. One of the two I think.

Jon Schaffer.

 

[The Flash]

I don't headbang really.. I head "bob" at most. But really, even on the few occasions I have I've found my neck hurt very quickly unless I'd had something to drink.... and sitting hunched over a desk all day still creates more neck pain for me than any amount of headbanging ever has.

This.