Fixing the Flaws: Weak Neck Musculature
Written on May 1, 2007 at 6:34 pm, by Eric Cressey
The neck is especially important in contact sports such as football and rugby, where neck strength in all planes is highly valuable in preventing injuries that may result from collisions and violent jerking of the neck. Neck harnesses, manual resistance, and even four-way neck machines are all good bets along these lines, as training the neck can be somewhat awkward.
From a postural standpoint, specific work for the neck flexors is an effective means of correcting forward head posture when paired with stretches for the levator scapulae and upper traps as well as specific interventions to reduce postural abnormalities at the scapulae, humeri, and thoracic spine. In this regard, unweighted chin tucks for high reps throughout the day are all that one really needs. This is a small training price to pay when you consider that forward head posture has been linked with chronic headaches.
Eric Cressey
www.BuildingtheEfficientAthlete.com
Category Blog | Tags: Building The Efficient Athlete, Eric Cressey, Magnificent Mobility, Rotator Cuff Exercises, Rotator Cuff Rehab, Shoulder Exercises, Shoulder Health, Shoulder Impingement, Shoulder Pain, Shoulder Rehab, Stability, Unstable Surface Training, Weight Lifting Program, Weight Lifting Routine, Workout Program, Workout Routine
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May 3rd, 2007 at 11:53 pm
Any advantage/disadvantage to doing the chin tucks with weight?
A client of mine had reoccurring headaches at the base of his skull.
Some stretching of the levator scapulae and traps, as well as strengthening of the scapular anchors, and weighted chin tucks (25 lbs, sets of 12) has done wonders. Didn’t know if high repetition unweighted throughout was a better option than 2-3 sets of 12 reps weighted during a training session. My client is a desk jockey, not a rugby player.
Well, in any case – it worked!