Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

I see dead people · 05-10-2003, 02:33 PM

It struck me recently that I've observed there is an unusual amount of fencers who have thin hair or bald spot. More so than any other sport, except bowling.
Could this be caused by the inbalanced of body muscle usage? Meaning both bowlers and fencers use one side of their body muscles excessively.

angriff · 05-10-2003, 11:22 PM

No, I put it down to constant scalp abrasion due to close and (in many cases) constant contack with the mask

angriff · 05-10-2003, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by angriff
constant contack

Um.. constant contact

I see dead people · 05-11-2003, 12:24 AM

Yeah, my mask pulls my hair a lot.

Also, is there any study on the effect of prolonged wearing of electrically charged clothing? I mean basically whenever a fencer wears a lame, that's what happens. And out bodies rely on electric impulses to function, I would imagine wrapping your body with metallic clothiing, charged with sinusoidal voltage, would have some adverse effect.

MikeHarm · 05-11-2003, 09:05 PM

I have noticed a lot of bald coaches. I figure its due to stress levels.

Event Horizon · 05-12-2003, 03:20 AM

I've wonder about the same thing (about the mask). If so, wouldn't the women fencers have bald spots/thining hair like the men?

Cyranox11 · 05-12-2003, 04:08 AM

Yes, my wife and I have identified the serious medical condition FMS (Fencing Mask Syndrome)! This serious condition manifests itself in males aged 27-45. It is characterised by thinning hair on the crown which, if not treated immediately, develops into full blown bald spot-ilitis.

This serious disease resulst in the scalp bursting past the hair line and will in time bring about almost complete baldness. This has potentially diasterous consequences for the fencer: he will soon become the butt of various bald jokes, he will be ostracised and he will, if not treated, eventually retreat into a solitary existence, coming out into public view only to fence (when the mask provides some aninomity).

Important notice elite male fencers (we suspect a correlation with elevated testosterone levels) and fencing coaches are most at risk! Dont delay! Seek treatment now!

Consultation fee $500.00 per hour.
Contact us at:

fms@quacksrus.com

JEC · 05-12-2003, 04:47 AM

Judging by your avatar. It is hopeless!!!

Cyranox11 · 05-12-2003, 08:18 AM

Touche mon frere,
But that is the 'before' photo, for the after pics refer to the wookie in Star Wars and Cousin It in the Adams family, I was recruited for both roles, after succesful treatment!

jeff · 05-12-2003, 10:01 AM

It's all testosterone... aggressive behavior and male pattern baldness!

Cyranox11 · 05-12-2003, 10:11 AM

Dont listen to Jeff!!

FMS is a serious medical condition requiring URGENT treatment.

QuacksRUs has just announced a special sponsorsed treatment programme!*

All FIE license holders are entitled to 2 FREE consultations as well as a 50% discount on our patented treatment programme!!!

Dont delay 'hair today gone tomorrow!'

fms@quacksrus.com

*offer excludes superglue and RealHair (TM) applications and is subject to verification of license number by FIE (be warned this may take some time).

jeff · 05-12-2003, 10:30 AM

This sounds like a lot of the spam I already get. In other words, it might sell *sigh*

mifencer · 05-12-2003, 12:57 PM

I'm not sure if this would help with FMS, but the rivet inside the mask has taken many hairs from my head. So what I did was I covered the rivet w/a piece of tape. That might help with 2-3 hairs per day....

Jupiter · 05-12-2003, 03:42 PM

"men who go bald in the back are thinkers, men who go bald in the front are sexy, and men who go bald front and back just think they're sexy"

Duelist · 05-12-2003, 03:53 PM

Could it just be a coincidence? Or a terrible forgotten secret which the FIE has struggled to keep secret for years......

DJ Apostrophe · 05-12-2003, 05:11 PM

I don't think its the hair going away, as much as the number of hairs staying constant, and the inevitable, "fencing big-headedness" setting in and thus, the same hair has to cover more head, and it looks like there is less hair.
-w

It · 05-12-2003, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mifencer
I'm not sure if this would help with FMS, but the rivet inside the mask has taken many hairs from my head. So what I did was I covered the rivet w/a piece of tape. That might help with 2-3 hairs per day....

I used tape to cover a couple places in my old mask, just for comfort. The result for me, I found hair stuck to the tape.

I see dead people · 05-15-2003, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Event Horizon
I've wonder about the same thing (about the mask). If so, wouldn't the women fencers have bald spots/thining hair like the men?

I theorize it is because fencing mask causes poor blood circulation to the scalp, and thus causes Dihydrotestostrone build-up, which is the cause that causes hair follicle astrophy, and thys men go bald after prolonged wearing of fencing mask. This does not happen to women because women don't have testostrone.

Also it just happens so that 100% of the coaches in my club are bald, too. Too strange a coincident.

Inquartata · 05-15-2003, 09:59 PM

The coaches are bald because their students have them pulling their hair out in frustration.

Event Horizon · 05-16-2003, 02:26 AM

I bet wearing something over your hair would help. Like a bandana, or what surgeons wear. Even fighter pilots wear something under their flight helmets. Although, there are bald doctors and pilots. So it's probably in the genes. Oops, I think I just ruined it for QuacksRUs...sorry Cyranox11.