New Study Finds That Shaking Your Head After a Hit Might Not Just Be a ‘What Was That?’ Moment

In a groundbreaking study that could have you shaking your head in disbelief, researchers have discovered that a simple head shake—yes, that same motion you make when trying to get rid of a bad idea—could actually signal a concussion. Brought to you by the folks at Mass General Brigham and the Concussion Legacy Foundation, this revelation is sure to make you question every time you’ve seen an athlete wobble like a bobblehead doll!

Apparently, if you find yourself wobbling back and forth after taking a hit to the head, you might want to reconsider that “just a little dizzy” excuse. “Think of it as a spontaneous headshake after a kinematic event,” explained Dr. Dan Daneshvar, who’s clearly been taking his medical jargon lessons too seriously. Basically, it sounds more like your grandma’s old trick to get birds to fly away than an actual medical term!

“We all know the cartoon trope of a character shaking their heads until cartoon birds fly out, but did you know it might mean someone has a concussion?” Dr. Daneshvar continued. Because of course, relying on a character from the Looney Tunes for your medical cues is exactly how we should be proceeding in professional sports!

The researchers surveyed hundreds of youthful athletes and found a shocking 75% had experienced this “head shake” phenomenon right around the time they received their own concussion. We’re starting to think the phrase “shake it off” might need a little rebranding!

Back in the day, we used to think you had to fall down and start seeing stars to be “officially” concussed. Now, it seems you can just shake your head like you’ve just seen your crush at the school dance and—voilà!—you might have a concussion. Dr. Julie Stamm, not a fan of antiquated concussion wisdom, says it’s about time to recalibrate our concussion-confirmation systems.

With the new findings, researchers suggest that recognizing this legendary head shake could help identify up to a third of undiagnosed concussions. That’s right—the same folks who shadow-box regularly might just end up with a better chance of a legitimate diagnosis!

Following the infamous Tua Tagovailoa incident—where physicians thought he was just experiencing a bad case of the shakes—not incorporating this head shake into official protocols is starting to sound like a bad joke. Thanks to the new research, we could add “SHAAKE” to our growing list of signals indicating that perhaps it’s time to sit the next play out, or risk creating an Olympic sport in head-nodding.

The NFL, always eager to jump on the latest medical bandwagon, is considering these findings. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Sills stated that they’ll be reviewing this groundbreaking data about as seriously as they review their game film—complete with dramatic playback!

So, next time you witness an athlete do the “SHAAKE”—remember, it’s no longer just a quirky move; it could be a whole new diagnostic tool. And if you’re among the millions who enjoy this pastime known as “sports,” make sure to keep that skeptical eyebrow raised and a hand poised to stop those head-shakers from risking life, limb, and the chance to see another game!