Is dancing safe during recovery?
 

Is dancing to music safe while recovering from an head injury?

I don't mean slow dancing to depressing music or something, I talk about dancing hard to Dubstep or any kind of fast-paced electronic music.

If you don't recognize this type of music, it's a music where during the dancing, you jump a lot and move your head around as you hit the ground (sometimes you even throw your head forewards as a part of the jump). You just move your whole body really quickly and the head is no exception.

Is it dangerous while healing? Is it as dangerous as too much physical activity, or less dangerous? And is there a difference between doing it for a minute or two or doing it for 30 minutes?

I just want to know because our heads are so fragile after an injury that it's ridiculous.

Thanks,
-ProAgonist

Pro,

Do a bit of research about the risks of violent head movement during dancing. It is not even safe for healthy brains.

The key issue is the intensity, not just the duration. Lower intensity for longer periods can be just as bad a higher intensity for brief moments.

People have suffered a wide variety of brain and neck injuries from this behavior.

What is the purpose of the head movements and jerky body movements ?

Mark,

The head movements are not something you do intentionally during dancing most of the time.

Dancing to heavy electronic music means jumping with all your energy and moving around quickly, and that means that sometimes when you jump, you will move your head down quickly as you land (as part of the jump, and again it happens by mistake).

So is it still dangerous if once in a few minutes of dancing you accidentally move your head down quickly when you're jumping? It's just part of the dancing, it's not always to your control (sometimes you just move your head down fast from the acceleration of landing on the floor).

Could this worsen my existing PCS and limit my recovery (add more permanent damage)?

It certainly won't help, and it's not worth the risk. Your injuries are very close together and fairly recent.

What symptoms are you having? I'd at least suggest waiting until you have been symptoms free for several months.

I'm surprised you would feel well enough to go to any type of EDM show/event or even listen to it for prolonged periods of time. I too would say it's not worth the risk right now. That's a lot of stimulation for one night.

I haven't gone dancing at a club or something, but I just danced for like 30 seconds to some music at my home and my symptoms returned immediately (went to sleep with terrible nausea yesterday because of this). I hope that this isn't too much and will delay my recovery (these 30 seconds I've danced), and I'll listen to you guys and won't repeat it.

Lightrail11,

My main symptom is derealization. This is one scary thing. It feels like you are not really where you are and you're living in a dream that you can't control 100%. I also have the other usual symptoms - confusion, difficulty concentrating, difficulty finding the right word and headaches.

Without stress, my symptoms are very mild. But when I get stressed emotionally, my symptoms return fully and I just feel really bad. I hope it'll get better over time, but right now - no more dancing or too much physical activity.