Michael Jackson’s incredible ‘antigravity’ Smooth Criminal dance move EXPLAINED as scientists analyse 45-degree lean

A team of neuroscientists have warned that fans shouldn’t try and recreate the move

Michael Jackson not only defied gravity but also, apparently, the limits of the human body when he performed his incredible anti-gravity tilt in his Smooth Criminal video.

Now three Jacko fans, who all happen to be neurosurgeons, have analysed his incredible dance move and revealed it was achieved by a mix of his incredible talent, and a little bit of magic.

But they warned fans not to try to copy the superstar, who died aged 50 nine years ago, as they may do themselves a serious injury.

Back in the 1980s, MTV had only music videos to show and the genre really took off when Jackson burst on the scene in 1983 with his hit Billie Jean.

Jackson reinvented the format, adding story lines to his songs, along with special effects, cinematography, and amazing choreography.

He executed dance moves thought impossible, at the time and even now.

Almost every fan tried to dance like him, but very few could pull it off.

In one memorable move featured in the 1987 video “Smooth Criminal,” he pitches forward 45 degrees, with his body straight as a rod and his shoes resting on the stage, and holds the position.

The neurosurgeons from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in India – Nishant Yagnick, Manjul Tripathi, and Sandeep Mohindra – set out to examine Jackson’s antigravity tilt from a neurosurgeon’s point of view.

They said some basics of spinal biomechanics show just how impressive the feat is. Even the strongest of dancers can only maintain a 25 to 30-degree forward tilt from the ankle.

The neurosurgeons document how the antigravity tilt was accomplished, taking into account Jackson’s talent and core strength, as well as his “inventiveness” and use of a patented aid, that together seem to move his body past human limits.

In the video, the illusion of Jackson and his dancers’ seemingly impossible forward lean was created using strings and wires.

To accomplish the manoeuvre in live shows, a hitching mechanism which Jackson co-patented was built into the floor of the stage and the performers’ shoes, thereby allowing them to lean without needing to keep their centres of mass directly over their feet.

The system consists of pegs that rise from the stage at the appropriate moment and special shoes with ankle supports and cutouts in the heels which can slide over the pegs and be temporarily attached to the stage.

In the patent, it is stated that the illusion in the video was achieved by means of harnesses and cables which had to be connected to and disconnected from the floor by stagehands.

But the researchers warned other neurosurgeons of new forms of spinal injuries, as dancers follow Jackson’s example and attempt “to jump higher, stretch further, and turn faster than ever before.”

Dr Tripathi said, “MJ has inspired generations of dancers to push themselves beyond their limits.

“Though a visual delight, such moves also lead to new forms of musculoskeletal injuries.”

He added: “The King of Pop has not only been an inspiration but a challenge to the medical fraternity.”

The findings were published in the Journal of Neurosurgery.

Michael Jackson’s antigravity tilt: Impossible physics or just perfect engineering?

Michael Jackson’s 45-degree tilt in the Smooth Criminal video remains one of his most jaw-dropping dance moves.

Neurosurgeons, intrigued by the mechanics of this move, recently dissected the dynamics in a paper published in the Journal of Neurosurgery. They concluded that Jackson “cheated gravity” using a combination of special shoes and incredible physical control.

The patented shoes, designed by Jackson and his team, had a unique heel slot that engaged with a nail-like hitch on the stage, allowing the wearer to lean beyond the body’s natural limit.

While the shoes provided crucial support, the move also required exceptional core and lower body strength, making it impossible for most people to replicate safely.

Neurosurgeon Dr. Nishant Yagnick warned that untrained attempts to mimic the lean could (and have) resulted in serious injury, a risk heightened by Jackson’s immense popularity.

“It takes a lot of practice to develop the core muscles, abs, and central trunk muscles to get the strength to do it,” he said.

For fans, it’s a testament to Jackson’s blend of innovation, artistry, and physical prowess.

Image: Michael Jackson dancing in ‘Smooth Criminal’. 1988.