Strengthening Neck Muscles May Be Key To Minimizing Injuries
by Dr. John Nash, D.C.
Koala Wellness Centers Inc.

With the recent major changes in health care, physicians have come to a better understanding of the Wellness Principle. This concept recognizes that each individual has a responsibility to live each day in a manner which contributes to good bodily function. The summative effects of lifestyle do in fact influence well being.

This Wellness Principle, in a large segment of society, is only vaguely understood and certainly not practiced. The result is that wellness is negatively impacted. Complicating this scenario even further, when an injury occurs, even some minor types, the bodily tissues need special provisions to overcome reactions to the injury. In truth, soft tissue injuries of this variety have been shown to be much more important to residual problems than those injuries such as fractures which are properly treated with good result. Soft tissues include mainly the ligaments, muscles, and tendons.

We are all aware of volumes of scientific information about care of the low back with stretching and exercise, accompanied by proper lifting techniques. Much of the information which has been printed about the low back is also useful in caring for the neck since the general principles are applicable.

Specifically, the neck must be exercised and stretched to compensate for summative repetitive stresses of the workplace. Each workplace is unique, presenting challenges to the system of muscles, tendons and ligaments. These tissues ideally respond to motion through a predictable range of movement, it becomes evident that long periods of restricted motion, forced motions which exceed the normal range, will contribute to discomfort in the neck or shoulders since the muscles span that region. Additionally, there are two modifiers, which will accentuate this problem. One is where forces are applied such as those experienced in whiplash effects of rear-end car accidents. Another is where the head is placed in the extreme normal motion and held there for a prolonged period. This is often best understood as looking out of the airplane window for a great view of the scene below. As the head is held there for a long time, pain and stiffness occurs as the head is returned to neutral.

Strength information is now available indicating normal levels of muscle performance for each group of small muscles, known as intrinsics, which are responsible for postural control of the head. When weak, these muscles shift the responsibility of head support to other large muscles which are not able to perform properly since they consist of different cells than the intrinsics. Intrinsics contain cells which contract for long periods of time with small force, whereas large muscles consist of cells which contract for short periods of time, but very forcefully. As the large muscle attempts to work as an intrinsic, it produces cramp like reactions that become part of the neck complaint.

It is critical in the wellness concept for the neck that all of the above be applied under the guidance of one trained in this field.