The old saying goes that artists must suffer for their art, but this situation might be taking things a bit too far.
A breakdancer had to undergo surgery because he spent so much time spinning on his head that he developed a ‘breakdance bulge’.
The bulge, which is fairly well documented within the breakdance community but barely studied in medicine, developed over the breakdancer’s 19-year dance career.
The dancer, who wanted to remain anonymous, would take part in one-and-a-half hour training sessions five times a week. During those sessions, he’d spend up to seven minutes applying pressure to his head while practicing head spinning.
But over time the bulge grew in size and became more sensitive, until eventually he felt like he couldn’t leave the house without a hat on to cover the cone-shaped mass.
The ‘protuberance’ has since been removed after he eventually sought medical help. He underwent tests to rule out cancer and other diseases before being diagnosed with a ‘headspin hole’.
The case has been reported in the BMJ Case Reports journal, which urges breakdancers to avoid head spinning if they develop a ‘breakdance bulge’ on their head.
Dr Christian Baastrup Sondergaard, one of the paper’s authors, explained: ‘This report does not advocate against headspinning entirely.
‘However, breakdancers who notice the early development of a breakdance bulge should consider reducing or avoiding headspins, as continuing may lead to further enlargement of the bulge.
‘Although this is a rare condition unique to breakdancers, the successful surgical treatment in this case demonstrates that it is a viable option for symptom relief and improved quality of life for affected individuals.
‘As only one prior case was reported, this case adds valuable information to the medical literature. It could encourage further studies on breakdancing injuries, possibly identifying other underreported conditions or mechanisms of injury.’
The report notes that breakdancing involves a range of complex and physically demanding techniques which can put strain on certain parts of the body.
These leave breakdancers ‘particularly prone to injuries’ which can then lead to chronic problems.
One of these is ‘overuse injury to the scalp’ caused by repeated head spinning, also known as the ‘headspin hole’ or ‘breakdance bulge’.
‘It is characterised by hair loss, inflammation, numbness and sometimes formation of a lump on the scalp. In radiologic descriptions, the term “cone-head sign” is used,’ the report said.
The patient had noticed his hair loss getting worse over the space of five years, while the protrusion got bigger and more tender.
He eventually went to his doctor and underwent surgery to remove the mass – with dramatic before and after pictures showing the change to the shape of his head.
The report concluded that surgical treatment for the bulge ‘appears to be a successful intervention’.
Speaking after receiving his surgery, the breakdancer said: ‘The outcome is much better than how it looked before, and I am glad I had it done.
‘I would choose to do it again if I had the choice. It is now possible for me to go out in public without a cap/ hat which is, of course, a very nice feeling.
‘I have received a lot of positive feedback and people say it looks well done, that I have a nice scar and that my overall appearance has improved significantly.
‘Many say that they no longer notice that I have a bump and that my head looks completely normal.’
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