News flash: Rock ‘n’ roll head-banging ain’t healthy!
This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science.
In 1968, at a Led Zeppelin concert, hard rockers began BANGING their heads on the stage. Violent rhythmic head movements became common among heavy metal fans.
Unfortunately, so did reports of hearing loss, stroke, and mild traumatic brain injury.
Researchers at the University of South Wales studied head-banging in a subject pool including MTV cartoon characters Beavis and Butt-head!
They then created a theoretical model correlating head movement with injury.
Damage began when a song’s tempo went above one hundred thirty beats per minute. Or when neck movement was further than seventy five degrees.
Safety suggestions include wearing a helmet—right—or only head banging to gentle music like Sade.
Mosh pits? Totally safe. Psyche!
Reference: Patton, D., & McIntosh, A. (2008). Head and neck injury risks in heavy metal: head bangers stuck between rock and a hard bass. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 337, a2825. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.a2825