To Twerk or Not To Twerk

To twerk or not to twerk, that is the question, especially after looking at the health risks and benefits. Twerking itself has become quite the pop-culture phenomenon and continues to be prominent, particularly in club-like environments.

Many of us have heard of twerking or have at least tried it, but for those of you who haven't, twerking is known as a complex combination of movements involving deep squatting, pelvic tilting and thrusting. "I don't know that we have good research evidence on the beneficial or harmful effects of twerking," said Rick Edyo, MD, a physician in the Department of Family Medicine at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. There's something to be said about that.

A series of questions might go through your head when you watch someone twerk. How are they doing that? Doesn't that person realize how sexual that looks? Air humping? How does their back bend like that? That can't be good.

Someone with back pain may not want to twerk nearly as hard as someone without pain, but who's to say that twerking can't be a good work out? Think about it. It's dancing. Dancing is very good for your heart, muscles, joints, and blood flow. "Less strenuous dancing may even be immediately helpful for those who have minor back issues. Getting hot and sweaty during a workout pumps blood quickly throughout the body," said Dr. Deyo. "[This] helps circulate anti-pain substances like endorphins throughout the body."

Though this sounds like a great "twerkout." Many have watched "twerking fails" on YouTube, Vine, or Facebook. These videos are a great display of people hurting themselves in twerking-related accidents. There's a video of someone twerking too hard on a table. A broken hip was the result of that catastrophe. Over-twerking can also result in an overthrown back and/or make the knees creak. Practice safe sex is already on the list, but it's time to add "practice safe twerking." Here are some tips:

Stretch it Out- The last thing you want after a long night of endless twerking is to pull a muscle. The primary muscles you use while dancing are your hamstrings, quads, and abs. Make sure you stretch those muscles prior to going out.

Be Smart- If you can barely twerk when sober, what makes you think you can twerk drunk? It's safe to say that it's nearly impossible. Be smart and twerk responsibly. Don't drink and twerk.

Know Your Limits- If you really want to attempt this thrust-entailed dance move, make sure you only twerk as hard as you can handle. If you have back pain, don't attempt to do what the person next to you is doing, especially if it's up against a wall. Twerk at your own pace.