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'Headspin hole': Man develops scalp tumor after decades of breakdancing

Breakdancing, or breaking as it鈥檚 called by its athletes, made its debut as an official sport at the 2024 Paris Olympics. (Pexels) Breakdancing, or breaking as it鈥檚 called by its athletes, made its debut as an official sport at the 2024 Paris Olympics. (Pexels)
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Researchers in Denmark have published a  revealing an unexpected consequence of one of breakdancing鈥檚 most iconic moves: the headspin.

Breakdancing, or breaking as it鈥檚 called by its athletes, made its debut as an official sport at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Breakers compete in battles judged on criteria like execution, musicality, originality and technique.

Although breaking is celebrated for its athleticism and creativity, it also comes with physical risks. These can include carpal tunnel syndrome and other nerve problems, as well as a condition known in the breaking community as headspin hole, an overuse injury that can affect the scalp.

The condition typically begins with hair loss but can develop into a significant bump on the top of the head.

In the case report, published Thursday in the medical journal BMJ, a man in his early 30s who had been breaking for nearly 20 years was treated for a benign tumor that had grown more than an inch thick.

The condition, sometimes referred to as breakdance bulge, is thought to be caused by repeated friction between the scalp and the floor during headspins, compounded by the pressure exerted during the move.

鈥淲e believe the condition results from repeated friction between the head and the floor, combined with the weight-bearing nature of headspins, accumulated over years of breakdancing,鈥 said Dr. Christian Baastrup S酶ndergaard, a neurosurgery specialist at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen. 鈥淭his repetitive strain on the skull, scalp and skin likely triggers inflammation, and over time, minor bleeding may lead to thickened skin and scar tissue, forming the characteristic bulge.鈥 S酶ndergaard, a co-author of the case report, treated the patient.

The patient reported discomfort and soreness, and said he avoided public outings without a hat to conceal the bump.

After surgeons removed the growth, the patient expressed relief: 鈥淚t鈥檚 great to be able to go out in public without a cap or hat. Many people tell me they don鈥檛 notice the bump anymore and that my head looks completely normal.鈥

Despite some awareness of the condition within the breaking community, medical literature on 鈥渉eadspin hole鈥 remains limited, according to the case report. Users on Reddit鈥檚 r/bboy community, an online forum for breakers, have discussed developing bald spots over time and shared tips like wearing padded beanies or adding gel pads under a hat while performing the maneuver.

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