University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine experts analyzed visible signs of concussion in individuals participating in professional slap fighting competitions and reported the results in a paper published in JAMA Surgery . As the first academic study to provide a quantifiable assessment of the possible dangers associated with this activity, the findings offer a starting point for conversations around necessary regulations to ensure participants' long-term health and well-being. "Slap fighting may be entertaining to watch as a lay viewer, but, as medical professionals, we found some aspects of the competitions to be quite concerning," said lead author Raj Swaroop Lavadi, postdoctoral research fellow at Pitt's neurosurgery department.
"Our end goal is to make all professional sports safer for the neurologic health of the athletes. It is really difficult to ban any sport, but it is possible to raise awareness about the associated harms. We were intrigued with the prospect of applying video analysis to identify signs of concussion in a competition that hasn't previously been studied.
" Slap fighting, a largely underground activity, is quickly gaining popularity, amassing online audiences of millions. The competitors, separated by a waist-level podium, stand across each other and take turns to deliver crushing open-handed blows across the opponent's face. According to the official rules, opponents have a few moments to recover, and the fight continues until one of the participant.