Headbangers told: Wear a neck brace or risk serious injury
12/18/2008 3:00 PM, Yahoo! Music courtesy of NME.com
Medical experts in Australia have warned that headbanging is likely to be behind a silent epidemic of head- and neck-related injuries.
Dr. Andrew McIntosh, biomedical and injury expert at the University Of New South Wales, carried out research into headbanging, and published his findings in the British Medical Journal.
McIntosh issued a stark warning to music fans who headbang.
"We identified a definite risk of mild traumatic brain injury from headbanging," he said. "We would suggest a proper public health warning, as for smoking."
The report calls for fans to wear neck braces when headbanging in order to protect themselves from injury. McIntosh also recommended listening to less intense music, reports The Herald.
"Perhaps AC/DC should play something more appropriate, such as 'Moon River,'" he joked.
