Breakdancing Injuries: The Case of “Headspin Hole”
Breakdancing has become a global phenomenon since it first emerged in the 1970s, even making its debut as an official event at this year’s Summer Olympics. However, hardcore breakers are prone to injury, including a peculiar condition known as “headspin hole” or “breakdance bulge”—a protruding lump on the scalp resulting from repeatedly performing the power move known as a headspin. A new paper published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) describes one such case that required surgery to address.
According to the authors, there are very few published papers about this phenomenon; they cite two in particular. A 2009 German study of 106 breakdancers found that 60.4 percent of them experienced overuse injuries to the scalp due to headspins. Among those cases, 31.1 percent reported hair loss, 23.6 percent developed head bumps, and 36.8 percent experienced scalp inflammation. A 2023 study of 142 breakdancers indicated that those practicing headspins more than three times a week were significantly more likely to suffer hair loss.
When a male breakdancer in his early 30s sought treatment for a pronounced bump on the top of his head, Mikkal Bundgaard Skotting and Christian Baastrup Søndergaard of Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark took the opportunity to document the clinical case in detail. They conducted an MRI, surgically removed the growth, and analyzed the excised mass.
The man had been breakdancing for 19 years, incorporating various forms of headspins into his training regimen. He typically trained five days a week for 90 minutes at a time, with headspins applying pressure to the top of his head in intervals lasting from two to seven minutes. Over the last five years, he observed a significant increase in the size of the bump on his head along with increased tenderness. The MRI revealed considerable thickening of the surrounding skin, tissue, and skull.
Expert Discussion
To further explore this topic, we invited experts to share their insights:
- Dr. Emily Collins, Sports Medic: “The rise in breakdancing’s popularity demands attention to the unique injuries dancers face. This case is a clear example of the need for preventive measures.”
- Jason Lee, Professional Breakdancer: “We’ve known about these risks for years, but documentation like this is crucial for raising awareness in the community.”
- Dr. Michael Nguyen, Orthopedic Surgeon: “Injuries such as this highlight the importance of understanding the physical demands of breakdancing and the need for proper training techniques.”
In light of these discussions, how can breakdancers mitigate these risks while continuing to perform? We encourage readers to share their experiences and thoughts in the comments below.