19 May,2024 07:15 AM IST | Beijing | A Correspondent
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These are some killer dance moves, quite literally. In a recent study by the Chinese Orthopaedic Association, it was revealed that the percentage of spinal cord injuries caused by the backbend exploded from just 4 per cent between 1992 and 2002 to a whopping 33.9 per cent between 2015 and 2019.
The backbend, which is a crucial move in the Chinese folk dance, is the main cause of these injuries in children as young as five and above. Dong Daier, an instructor at Beijing Dance Academy took to Tiktok to warn parents and instructors, "It is not recommended that dance instructors apply external pressure to a child's lower back, especially for children between the ages of 4 and 6."
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The teachers must be aware that it is a risky move. Doctors have advised that while children's spines are very flexible, the same cannot be said for their spinal cords. "For instance, a newborn's spine can be stretched and lengthened by up to two inches without rupturing. However, the spinal cord can only withstand about a quarter inch," says Dr. Guo Xiaodong, director of Orthopedics at Wuhan Union Hospital.
He adds that children who suffer spinal cord injuries while practicing the backbend have a four-hour "golden window" to seek medical help but often don't realise the extent of their injury because the initial symptoms are only mild pain and discomfort.
1,000
the amount of children who got paralysed doing the backbend in dance classes since 2005
Ethiopian woman claims she hasn't had a morsel of food for the past 16 years
Muluwork Ambaw, a 26-year-old woman from Ethiopia, claims to have completely shunned food and drinks for the past 16 years of her life. At the age of ten, she suddenly lost her appetite, after which she stopped eating. But what comes as a surprise, is her ability to perform her daily tasks, including cooking for others, in a perfectly good condition. Due to the lack of nutrition, she hasn't used the washroom either.
Mr Belachew, a man from her town, first discovered her condition, after hearing about the rumours that someone from his town never ate or drank. Even though he got her tested in one of the biggest hospitals, the results remained the same.
"I have nothing to say. It's God's work and I just accept that," Muluwork Ambaw said. In 2021, when the country's Prime Minister learned about her claims, he made arrangements to have her tested in Dubai, but in vain. Apart from that, she has also been to doctors in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
In her recent interview with Drew Binsky, she claimed that the doctors found no remnants of food in her intestines, and even confirmed that her health, both physical and psychological, was perfectly fine. Despite being a religious Orthodox Christian, she even refuses to consume the holy water. Despite having her tested numerous times, her story remains hard to believe around the world.
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The first week of May is considered to be a national holiday on account of Teachers Appreciation Week. To make the day even more special and memorable, educators receive a token of appreciation from local organisations such as apples or small gifts.One teacher named Erin shared a quite different experience on TikTok for receiving a bag full of goodies from the local church along with a cremation coupon. His happy reaction sparked the conversation of sweet gestures among TikTok users.
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"My boss saw the video that my twin, Noe posted while covering me for work," says Canadian twin influencer Ari Chance. Ari's boss furiously sent an email calling it an unacceptable act and asked for an immediate apology. The twins create content on TikTok regarding what it's like to have familial doppelgangers around.
The 2024 Paris Olympics have introduced twin-sized beds, which have other unique features besides being 100 per cent recyclable. The beds are designed to prevent athletes from fornicating by offering reduced space. People are convinced different beds could put it to an end.
A rare medical condition has attached Indonesian conjoined twins at the pelvis in a way that they possess three legs, four arms, and one penis. These ischiopagus-tripus conjoined twins are connected by the lower half of their body instead of their upper torso.
Three men from a 2022 alleged heist of stealing 306 cattle over 12 days were recently arrested by the Australian police. Further investigation revealed that some of the cattle were exported, and the average price per cow was $827.09( Rs 68,922). Part proceeds were distributed evenly.
