In Denmark, researchers are reporting cases of tumors affecting the scalp caused by one of the most popular breakdancing moves, headspin.
Unexpected physical risks. A Danish study revealed that several cases of tumors affecting the scalp have been identified. At issue: headspin, a figure used in breakdancing, a sport which made its appearance on the Olympic program during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
According to the scientists’ conclusions, the movement in question, which consists of turning around while leaning on the head, could cause different types of nervous problems, including benign tumors.
The disease is believed to be caused by overuse of the scalp and usually begins with hair loss. It could progress with the appearance of a significant bump on the top of the head.
Repeated friction between the ground and the head
Published this Thursday in the medical journal BMJ, the study reports the case of a man in his thirties, who had been breakdancing for almost twenty years, treated for a benign tumor which had reached more than 2.54 centimeters thick.
He said he felt discomfort and pain before realizing that a bump had grown on his head. This lump, which turned out to be a tumor, was quickly removed in surgery: “It’s great to be able to go out in public without a cap or hat. Many people tell me that they no longer notice this bump and that my head looks completely normal,” he said.
According to Doctor Christian Baastrup Søndergaard, specialist in neurosurgery at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen and co-author of the report, “this pathology results from repeated friction between the head and the ground, combined with the weight-bearing nature of headspin accumulated over years of breakdancing.
“This repetitive strain on the skull, scalp and skin likely triggers inflammation and, over time, minor bleeding can lead to thickening of the skin and scar tissue, forming the characteristic bulge,” a- he also added.
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