A VERY SPECIAL HEALTH MESSAGE FROM THE FORGE OF HEAVY METAL

Nothing, with the exception of the metal "horns" is more dogmatic to Heavy Metal music than a good old fashioned headbang.

For those not familiar with the term headbang, it is the physical action at most Metal shows where either the crowd, the band, or both, with sway their head rapidly in succession up and down, in a circular motion, or from side to side.

However, if you want to continue this practice, do so at your own risk. According to a study conducted in the UK and published in the British Medical Journal (click here for the study) headbanging can create problems such as whiplash. They found using a theoretical model that certain songs and even style of headbanging, could be responsible for serious injury.

To summarize, the study suggests the following to prevent injury.

1) Decrease the range of head and neck motion

2) Head bang to slower tempo songs by replacing Heavy Metal with adult oriented rock (Good luck on that one lads)

3) Only headbang to every second beat. (because metalheads were so in sync before, with the exception of Amon Amarth)

4) Use protective equipment

One problem with that last one, you show up looking like this:

Some metalheads may just laugh at you, others though, who didn't get enough hugs as children, may make you leave looking like this:

In all reality, headbanging is like any other physical activity, if it starts to hurt or you feel a little disoriented, um... what's the word I am looking for here, ah yes...STOP! Any athlete knows when to stop and take a second before risking injury the same needs to be done here. I have headbanged excessively throughout my deep, committed, relationship to Heavy Metal and I haven't gotten hurt, a little dizzy yes, but not hurt. It is important that we use the very brain we rattle around at these shows and take care of ourselves, its the same reason we pick a guy up that falls in the moshpit or keep a person moving along during a crowd surfing moment, because in the end we all just want to go out, have fun and not get hurt for our trouble.

Being a solid headbanger isn't all bad, check this guy out from a European Gameshow.