How to Protect Your Neck While Breakdancing

Breakdancing is a very popular and athletic type of dance. Breakdancers can perform amazing stunts, such as leaping from their backs to their toes and spinning on their heads. However, as fun as a breakdancing performance is to participate in or watch, it can also be a perilous hobby. The highly athletic moves can result in serious injury or even paralysis or death if they do not go according to plan.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Breakdancing helmet
• Breakdancing back brace
• Trainer

1. 
   This helmet could be worn in practice or in some kinds of competition

   Wear a helmet. Wearing a helmet not only protects your head, it also prevents your neck from being twisted or snapped in an awkward fall. Also, helmets cushion the head and eliminate friction during head spins, which also decreases strain on your neck.

2. 
   An elastic back brace like this one can be worn over or under clothing and does not interfere with flexibility

   Use back support. Many neck injuries are actually the result of inflammations due to cervical strains or fractures. Specially designed back braces that support the back without limiting mobility are a good preventative measure that can save you hours of pain and discomfort.

3. 
   A beanie like this one can be padded slightly to provide greater protection and spinning capability, which eases neck strain

   Protect your head, even in competition. Most breakdancers do not like to wear helmets in competition. However, wearing a "beanie" or any other head covering with a small, undetectable cushion inside will still help you perform head spins without as much risk of twisting your neck and can even cushion you--very slightly--in the event of a fall.

4. 
   This breakdancer is using his left hand to protect his neck and the side of his head during a dangerous move

   Learn protective dance movements. Many breakdancing moves can be done with or without the hands covering the neck. By placing the hands on the back of the neck during jumping and falling moves such as a "standard hop back to kip-up" can help you avoid injury while you are learning the maneuver. Later in competitions or once you have perfected the move, you may decide to eliminate the protective hand motion.

Tips & Warnings

• Breakdancing can be a very dangerous type of dance to learn because the ramifications of failing to land a stunt can be so severe. Always wear protective gear and train with an experienced professional.

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