Why did I decide to write about neck pain?
I was both a volunteer and injury consultant this past weekend for the mini Copa de Hong Kong Jiu Jitsu Tournament. I had a couple athletes ask, “what is the most common condition I see from combat athletes?”. In the past, I saw many lower back pain patients but most frequently it has been all neck injuries. I believe this is because athletes now train their core, abdominal and back strength much more frequently. As well, strength and conditioning for the lower back is a staple in many general body programs. Neck strength, conditioning and mobility is generally forgotten and currently this leads me to see more neck pain patients.
“Neck strength, conditioning and mobility is generally forgotten and currently this leads me to see more neck pain patients.”
Neck pain from both combat (jiu-jitsu, boxing, wrestling, muay thai, mma, football, basketball) and non-combat sports (basketball, football, tennis, golf, badminton) are quite common. Neck pain from combat sports can be particularly difficult to treat. This is due to the fact that sports typically involve techniques that strain the neck during training. Common injuries tend to occur in hyperflexion, rotation, traction and compression. The most common form of neck pain I see is from flexion based injuries from getting your neck snapped down, being pulled in a thai plum, being stacked while playing guard or being choked and head locked.
Neck pain is usually felt in the highest portion of the spine, the cervical spine area. The cervical spine area, has 7 vetebrae. When the area becomes moved beyond the normal functional range of motion both passive (bone, disc, ligament, capsule) and active tissues (muscle, joint, tendon) can become injured. The neck and upper back area has both superficial to deep areas of soft tissue that covers vertebrae (see below). Neck injuries may also cause pain into the mid back or shoulders and many times is mistaken for problems in those areas.
I have neck pain from a jiu-jitsu, wrestling, boxing and/or muay thai, what can I do?
Having your neck pain evaluated by a Chiropractor will help determine the extent of the injury and what your prognosis (the forcast of your condition) will be. If you have already recovered from a previous neck pain or injury, prevention of the next one should be what you are thinking about. Having your neck and body assesed is the best way to know how your body is moving and how painful or dysfunctional issues have affected the function of your joints.
In my clinic, if a person reports pain then I perform an SFMA, neurological, orthopaedic and palpatory assessments. Your Chiropractor should locate the dysfunctional issues and tissues (tissue Extensibility, Joint mobility, chemical pain, motor control issues, or vestibular issues). A skilled practitioner should be able to palpate using a layering technique like Functional Palpation before performing any Functional Release or Active Release techniques. Many Chiropractors possess the skill to palpate specific structures and are experts to do so. The type of treatment administered will be based on what will provide the quickest neck pain relief and return to function.
I have recovered from a neck pain and injury, what is a safe and effective exercise I can peform to help strengthen my neck?
Many athletes will typically stretch to get rid of pain and improve passive range of motion. Is that enough to prevent injury? Just stretching in order to allow your body to get into a range of motion is not enough. Aquiring strength and control in ALL RANGES (short and long ranges of motion) will help prevent injuries. This means having active ability in these ranges of motion.
Below is a video from my colleague and mentor, Dr. Andreo Spina. Featured on Jits TV, our functional range conditioning exercise will help prevent neck pain injury. This exercise is also beneficial for those who just want general conditioning for there neck.
There are other great conditioning and neck strengthening execises that a qualified personal trainer or strength and conditioning coach can give you to help prevent neck pain. Just be sure you have all the prerequesites for doing the exercises by seeing you Chiropractor. They can determine if your neck is prepared for more difficult movements.
Do you practice brazillian jiu jitsu (BJJ), muay thai, boxing, wrestling, or judo and get neck pain? See a Chiropractor for an evaluation and improve your joint health and mobility.