Breakdancers have been warned that repeated head shaking could cause them to develop a “cone”.
It tells the story of a thirty-something man from Denmark who developed a “breakdance bulge” after “intense” breakdancing for almost two decades.
His training program consisted of about five sessions a week, each lasting about 1.5 hours, including two to seven minutes of pressure on the head.
According to an article published in the journal BMJ Case Reports, the man continued to shake his head even though the tumor was causing him discomfort and was “not aesthetically pleasing to the patient,” who wore a hat in public to hide it.
Before diagnosing the “vertigo hole,” doctors ruled out cancer and other potential diseases.
“It manifests itself as a fibrous mass on the scalp,” doctors say.
“It is characterized by hair loss, inflammation, numbness, and sometimes the formation of a lump on the scalp. “The term 'conus sign' is used in radiological descriptions,” they wrote.
The man sought help and the lump was surgically removed.
In a post-surgery conversation, the patient, who remains anonymous, said: “The result is much better than before, so I'm glad I decided to do it.
“If I had the choice, I would do it again. Now I can appear in public without a hat, which is of course a very nice feeling.
“I received a lot of positive feedback and people said it looked good, that I had a nice scar and that my overall appearance had improved a lot. Many say they no longer notice that I have a lump and that my head looks completely normal.”
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Breakdancing involves a number of complex and physically demanding techniques that can put stress on specific parts of the body.
The report concluded that the complex nature of these movements “makes breakdancers particularly susceptible to injury.”
Dr Christian Baastrup Sondergaard, one of the paper's authors and a neurosurgeon at Copenhagen University Hospital, told the PA news agency: 'This report does not recommend a total ban on head shaking.
“However, breakdancers who notice the early development of a breakdancing bulge should consider reducing or avoiding head rotation, as continuing may lead to further enlargement of the bulge.”
He added: “Although this is a rare condition that only occurs in breakdancers, the successful surgical treatment in this case shows that it is a viable option for relieving symptoms and improving the quality of life for those affected by this condition.
“Since only one previous case has been reported, this case adds valuable information to the medical literature. It may encourage further research into breakdancing-related injuries, possibly identifying other, rarely reported conditions or mechanisms of injury.”
Breakdancing made its debut as an Olympic sport during this year's Games in Paris.
He came into the spotlight after a unique and controversial show by Australian breakdance dancer Rachael Gunn – ridiculed for her performance – gained huge popularity on the Internet.
