(This Footnote to History article was printed on page 1 in the January 10, 1962 edition of the Akron Beacon Journal, and is reprinted word-for-word below.)

‘Potential Injury Source’

Over 40? Don’t Twist, Says AMA

Beacon Journal-Chicago Daily News Wire

CHICAGO—The 180,000-member American Medical Association has come out against the Twist.

Especially for dancers over 40.

An AMA spokesman ranked the Twist alongside the hula hoop as a “potential source” of dislocated joints, slipped disks, sacroiliac damage or muscle sprains.

“If you have to dance the Twist, take it easy,” cautioned Dr. John Youmans, AMA director of scientific activities.

“Do a relaxed, modified Twist, and you probably can get by with nothing more serious than a pulled muscle,” added Dr. Youmans, former dean of Vanderbilt University’s Medical School.

Issuing a statement Tuesday at AMA’s headquarters here, Youmans said a young person in good shape can Twist without much chance of injury.

But persons past 40 with poor muscle tone should use caution, he added.