Why you shouldn't slap: neuroscientists have discovered a serious health hazard. Research results

Neuroscientists from the University of Pittsburgh and the Virginia Health System have found that slapping can cause concussions. The study analyzed the effects of 333 slaps.

Recently, a new sport called "slapping" has become popular. A team of neuroscientists reviewed footage from the first televised slapping competition in the United States and found that the risk of concussion is extremely high, Science Alert reports.

"Slapping may be a more severe combat sport than previously thought, and strategies should be implemented to prevent neurological death among participants," the team of doctors says.

The most common signs were loss of coordination, slowness to get up, a blank stare, vomiting, and short-term amnesia.

Of all 333 slaps analyzed, signs of concussion were observed after 97 slaps, which corresponds to approximately 30 percent. Of the 56 participants tested, 44 had at least one of the concussion signs. Twenty participants also showed visible signs of repeated concussions during play.

Participants who already showed signs of concussion lost 75% of the time.

Although these initial findings are from small sample size and based only on visible signs of concussion, the authors suggest that slapping can cause brain injury with potential long-term consequences.

"It may be fun for a lay spectator to watch the slapping, but as healthcare professionals, we found some aspects of the competition to be of serious concern," says neurologist Raj Swaroop Lavadi of the University of Pittsburgh, who led the latest study.

"Our ultimate goal is to make all professional sports safer for the neurological health of athletes. It's really hard to ban any sport, but you can raise awareness of the associated harm."

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