Did you know?
@GardenGerty (169406)
United States
May 2, 2019 8:54pm CST
Did you know that if you stand up straight and lock your knees you can pass out, and fall down?
Some third through fifth grade students learned that first hand at rehearsal today.
The music director specifically warned them. It happened anyway.
A young man did just that and fell face forward to the stage and knocked himself out. He broke a tooth, and his glasses.
Yes, 911 was called. He was taken in and examined, then off to the dentist to fix his tooth.
The adults handled everything well. We have a retired nurse who works as a para and she was there. The principal was there. No one really panicked. The kids sat and watched. The young man regained consciousness. His neck was stabilized and he was transported about four blocks to the ER.
I have known of other kids who have done this. It is a hazard one does not often think of, even when they have been warned. This was the first time I have been present when it happened.
__________________________________________________Edited information:
I researched a little and learned a lot of different opinions. One of which is that standing still too long causes a reaction in the vagus nerve which can result in syncope. Another opinion says that fainting may happen anyway, but with knees locked you fall straight over, hitting your head or face and causing more injury. With your knees relaxed you will slump straight down and not fall so hard. Third point I gleaned was that standing very still too long causes blood to pool in your legs and then you get dizzy and may faint from lack of blood flow to the brain. One more reason I read is that stress and dehydration contribute to this fairly common phenomenon.
20 people like this
17 responses

@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
4 May 19
I know, it does not happen to me, but it does often happen to kids on risers etc. during school programs. I have a friend whose son did it more than once and ended up going backwards off the top and getting a concussion. I do not know if young people do this more than adults or what the reason is.
1 person likes this
@Melanie_Marie (2448)
• St. Clair, Michigan
3 May 19
I just tried it too and nothing happened. I was hoping for more exciting results.


2 people like this

@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
3 May 19
I would not tell the kids this, some smarty pants will try just to see what happens.
Me? I have never heard of this but I am not about to try either.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
4 May 19
Yep. In some cases they might try this on purpose. This is the only time I have ever heard a teacher warn them and this particular kid did not do it on purpose. I had heard of this before and my friend's kid had this happen more than once. Maybe it is more common when preparing to perform and being on stage, under lights and on risers. I have heard of it happening when military were standing for inspection as well.
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
4 May 19
They stabilized his neck right away. (One of the other paras is a retired nurse and she was with us.) Some feared he might have broken his jaw, but he did not. I added more information to the original post.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
6 May 19
@much2say That is very true and my knees need all the help they can get.
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
4 May 19
@GardenGerty Hope that he's ok now! I read your edited info . . . that all makes sense and any one of those could have very well been the case. I just know it's never good to lock your knees - not good for your knees.
1 person likes this

@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
4 May 19
I do not know if it would happen during exercise. The only times I have known of it happening were when people were practicing and performing, or military ranks standing for inspection. I wonder if it has to do with nervousness and stress as well.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502187)
• Italy
4 May 19
@GardenGerty I am pretty sure it's due to the stress, I remember we stayed with our knees locked during inspection in school and none of us ever fainted.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
4 May 19
Tightly stabilizing your knee so it has no flex in it. It cuts off circulation for some people.It happens when a person tries to stand very straight and very still.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67089)
• United States
5 May 19
Oh wow i never knew that could happen.
Glad he was mostly ok
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
6 May 19
I guess not everyone does this, but I had a friend whose oldest son did this about three times, backward, off the top of the risers, in high school. I had heard of it happening in military review as well.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
3 May 19
That's weird. I've never heard of it before, and I just tried it and didn't pass out.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
4 May 19
I think it has to do with doing it for an extended period of time, like in a rehearsal, which this was, or a military formation. Other factors, like stress, and heat and dehydration can contribute as well. I have gotten dizzy during performances and rehearsals but have never passed out.
@changjiangzhibin89 (17239)
• China
3 May 19
I have never known of it before.I wonder if it varies from person to person.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
4 May 19
Yes, it varies from person to person. I also wonder if it happens more to young people? The ones I know of that this happened to have been younger.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
3 May 19
I had never heard that. But I can see kids having to try it
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
4 May 19
It is not really on purpose when this happens. It is the result of being told to "stand up straight and tall and be still", possibly being too close together, hot and dehydrated. The director basically tried to remind them initially that they did not have to stand that rigidly but it is a subconscious thing, I think. I am glad he was not on the top row.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
3 May 19
I have never heard about this but thanks for the warning I will definitely remember never to do that. Hope the boy will be alright.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
4 May 19
I did more research and added it to the post. The last I heard, the young man will get his tooth fixed and his glasses and he may be sore for a while.
1 person likes this
@DesirousDreamer (34776)
• Peoria, Arizona
3 May 19
That is terrifying! When I was in JROTC a few kids passed out when we were standing at attention. It is crazy how easy it can happen.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
4 May 19
I find myself wondering if it is more common with younger people. I have heard of it happening with military and on stage more than once.
@DesirousDreamer (34776)
• Peoria, Arizona
4 May 19
@GardenGerty Probably because it isn't really told to not lock your knees when you are standing until someone finally faints. Plus nerves and everything also help with that.
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
4 May 19
It will take him a while to be completely fine I am sure.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
4 May 19
It was a studen, about eleven years old, who fell. He is okay, I believe, except for dental work and being sore.
1 person likes this
@Aansh13 (11433)
• New Delhi, India
4 May 19
@GardenGerty That's sad to hear! Hope he is doing fine.

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@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
4 May 19
I edited in some information I looked up. Basically there are a handful of reasons. One is that cutting off blood flow from the femoral artery stimulates a reaction in the vagus nerve resulting in fainting. Or lack of blood return from the legs to the heart, lungs and brain causes fainting. Sometimes it is because of both stress and dehydration, because it mostly happens to people either on stage on risers or to people standing at attention in military inspections.
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
4 May 19
The last I heard he is going to be fine, but will be sore for a while.
@Deepizzaguy (122070)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
3 May 19
The young person has learned a lesson not to take chances doing things that can harm him from now on.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
4 May 19
I do not think he did it on purpose. He may not have even understood what is meant by "locking his knees". The kids are crowded on risers and told to stand up straight and be very still. Often people lock their knees if they are trying to stand straight and still. I am glad we had people who took care of him in the emergency, though.





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