Breakdancing made its Olympic debut this year, with Japan’s b-girl Ami Yuasa and Canada’s b-boy Phil Vizard winning gold medals. However, as the sport gains global recognition, doctors are raising concerns about the physical effects it has on the dancers. Recent research reveals a unique overuse injury associated with breakdancing, commonly known as the “overuse injury.”headspin hole” or “breakdance bulge.”

According to a report in BMJ Case Reports, this condition causes the formation of a lump on the scalp due to repeated head rotation. Despite being well known within the breakdancing community, “headspin hole” is rarely documented in the medical literature. The report, led by Dr. Christian Bastrup Sondergaard, a neurosurgeon at the Department of Neurosurgery at Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark, sheds light on the issue.

The case study involved a man around 30 years old who had been breakdancing for over 19 years. He practiced about five times a week, spending an hour and a half at each session, which often included headspins. Over the past five years, the man noticed a large, painful lump developing on the top of his head. The lump had increased in size, become tender and hair around the affected area had started falling.

Medical examination revealed that the skin, tissue and bones at the top of the man’s skull had thickened due to repeated head rotations. Despite the discomfort, the condition did not stop him from continuing his breakdancing routine.

“The appearance of the lesion and associated discomfort were aesthetically unpleasant for the patient, but the bulge did not hinder the patient from continuing his head-rotating activities,” the researchers wrote in the case report.

A comprehensive survey conducted in 2023 among 106 breakdancers in Germany revealed that more than 60 percent of the dancers had experienced skull-related injuries from overuse due to headspins. About 31 percent reported hair loss, 24 percent noted painless scalp lumps, and 37 percent experienced scalp inflammation. These findings suggest that “headspin holes” may be more common than previously recognized.

In this specific case, doctors decided to treat the condition surgically. They removed the skull lump and cut away the excess bone growth on the man’s skull. The removed tissue measured approximately two inches in length and one inch in thickness. Thankfully, tests confirmed that the removed lump had no signs of cancer.

B-Boy was pleased with the result. “The result is much better than before, and I’m glad I got it done. I no longer have to wear a hat in public, which is a big relief. The scar has healed well, and people Let me tell you my overall appearance has improved,” he shared in the case report.

Doctors also emphasized that “headspin hole” is not the only injury that breakdancers suffer. The repetitive stress from breakdancing can lead to a variety of overuse injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome, tendon inflammation, and shoulder injuries. These issues are collectively known as “breakdancer overuse syndrome,

The researchers concluded, “This case underscores the importance of recognizing chronic scalp conditions in breakdancers and suggests that surgical intervention may be an effective treatment.”

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