STRANGE INJURIES

Bizarre injuries your body can inflict on itself

This week: shouting

SHOUTING can cause physical harm, as the former England goalkeeper, Alex Stepney, discovered in 1975. While playing for Manchester United, he dislocated his jaw while haranguing his defenders during a match.

When the mouth opens wide, the ball part of the joint (called the condyle) comes out of the socket and moves forward. It normally goes back into place when the mouth closes. But when the condyle moves too far, it can get stuck. The goalie, then aged 33, said: ‘I just shouted for the ball when my jaw clicked and left me in agony. It was ridiculous.’ He had to come off the pitch and went to hospital. Treatment normally involves manipulating the jaw into its proper position. Muscle relaxants and sedation may also be needed to relax the jaw muscle enough to do this.