Head and neck injury risks in heavy metal: head bangers stuck between rock and a hard bass

BMJ. 2008; 337: a2825
Published online Dec 17, 2008
doi:  10.1136/bmj.a2825

Declan Patton, research assistant
Andrew McIntosh, associate professor

School of Risk and Safety Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia 2052

Objective To investigate the risks of mild traumatic brain injury and neck injury associated with head banging, a popular dance form accompanying heavy metal music.

Design

Observational studies, focus group, and biomechanical analysis.

Participants

Head bangers.

Main outcome measures

Head Injury Criterion and Neck Injury Criterion were derived for head banging styles and both popular heavy metal songs and easy listening music controls.

Results

An average head banging song has a tempo of about 146 beats per minute, which is predicted to cause mild head injury when the range of motion is greater than 75°. At higher tempos and greater ranges of motion there is a risk of neck injury.

Conclusion

To minimise the risk of head and neck injury, head bangers should decrease their range of head and neck motion, head bang to slower tempo songs by replacing heavy metal with adult oriented rock, only head bang to every second beat, or use personal protective equipment.

http://www.bmj.com/content/337/bmj.a2825?view=long&pmid=19091761