Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Michael Jackson's gravity-defying 45 degree forward tilt during his Smooth Criminal was a clever illusion

'Trick or not, new forms of dancing inspired by MJ have begun to challenge our understanding of the modes and mechanisms of spinal injury'

Wednesday 23 May 2018 08:53 BST
Comments
Michael Jackson performs gravity-defying 45 degree forward tilt during Smooth Criminal

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Michael Jackson’s gravity-defying 45 degree forward tilt during his “Smooth Criminal” performance was a clever illusion invented by the pop star, scientists have revealed.

The "mind-boggling" dance move was first seen in the 1987 video for the song, but he also repeated the feat live.

Several fans tried to copy the move but none have managed to emulate the entertainer's dance move.

Led by long-time Jackson fan Nishant Yagnick, a team of three neurosurgeons set out to establish exactly how he achieved it.

They found that most trained dancers can achieve no more than 25 to 30 degrees of forward tilt

During the move, strain is shifted from the erector spinae muscles that support the spinal column to the Achilles tendon, they wrote in the trio from Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in India wrote in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine.

"This allows for a very limited degree of forward bending from the ankle joints, while keeping a stiff straight posture - unless you are Michael Jackson," they wrote. "MJ pulled off a gravity-defying 45 degree move that seems unearthly to any witness."

So how did Jackson do it? Well now a patent registered under Jackson's name reveals how the trick was achieved.

The pop legend designed a special shoe with a triangular slot in the heel which hooked onto a metallic peg that emerged from the stage floor at just the right moment.

This allowed Jackson to lean forward at a seemingly impossible angle without collapsing in a heap.

The authors stressed that despite the illusion, Jackson's physical abilities were nonetheless impressive.

"Even with specially designed footwear and the support of the hitch member, the move is incredibly hard to pull off, requiring athletic core strength from strengthened spinal muscles and lower-limb anti-gravity muscles," they wrote.

Amazon Music logo

Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music

Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members)

Sign up
Amazon Music logo

Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music

Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members)

Sign up

"Trick or not, new forms of dancing inspired by MJ have begun to challenge our understanding of the modes and mechanisms of spinal injury. Ever since MJ entertained us with his fabulous moves, throughout the world dancers have tried to jump higher, stretch farther, and turn faster than ever before."

Agencies contributed to this report

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in