Neck issues when stretching?
Neck issues when stretching?
When i do my hamstring stretches (touch toes and feet together) and move my head down with it, my neck hurts. I have been doing this for a couples weeks now and feel that my lack of neck flexibility is the reason why my neck kills after grappling. Should I keep this up( the hamstring stretching with chin down) to hopefully loosen up my neck? btw I have seen chiropractors and done massage and feel that it's a flexibility imbalance since other parts are flexible. Thoughts?
I agree with Dragon that tucking your chin while doing hamstring stretches is not a good idea.
If your neck is causing you pain after your workouts then you need to figure out what's going on. I don't know anything about grappling arts or the neck so it's not clear to me how a flexibility imbalance would result in neck pain. Was the chiropractor the one who convinced you that you have a flexibility imbalance? Did your neck still get sore in the workout after a massage? Have you always experienced neck pain after grappling? I'm wondering if you don't have some small injury that you aren't aware of and that is the cause of your pain.
-Mark
If your neck is causing you pain after your workouts then you need to figure out what's going on. I don't know anything about grappling arts or the neck so it's not clear to me how a flexibility imbalance would result in neck pain. Was the chiropractor the one who convinced you that you have a flexibility imbalance? Did your neck still get sore in the workout after a massage? Have you always experienced neck pain after grappling? I'm wondering if you don't have some small injury that you aren't aware of and that is the cause of your pain.
-Mark
Let me clarify.
Its not about the hams, it just so happens that my neck is super inflexible when i do that particular stretch and after moving my chin down and holding it feels like I have just been grappling. Also, other neck stretches I do feel normal. Thus I'm thinking that is why my neck hurts after grappling and I should keep up the ham stretches the way im doing them. So back to my original question of "should i keep this up"?
MEELOON: I call it a flexibility imbalance because I am flexible otherwise, yes to the question about the massage and "no" to the others.
Thanx and keep up the responces, I appreciate it.
MEELOON: I call it a flexibility imbalance because I am flexible otherwise, yes to the question about the massage and "no" to the others.
Thanx and keep up the responces, I appreciate it.
Personal opinion-No,i wouldn't perform the hamstring stretch that way.As i stated,neck stiffness or not,tucking your chin in is not advisable during the hamstring stretch as this could stretch ligaments of the spine(if you round the back).
You say the other neck stretches you do feel "normal"?-There's only so much flexibility you can gain in your neck.If specific neck stretches give you no problems then it may not be a flexibiblity issue.
It could be a postural or strength problem.The hamstring stretch may just be the certain position that triggers the pain.This doesn't mean the best course of action is keep up the said activity in the hope your neck will improve.
If you can stretch your neck in ways that don't aggrivate your neck,and you can stretch your hamstrings in ways that don't aggrivate your neck,use those positions instead.
Dragon.
You say the other neck stretches you do feel "normal"?-There's only so much flexibility you can gain in your neck.If specific neck stretches give you no problems then it may not be a flexibiblity issue.
It could be a postural or strength problem.The hamstring stretch may just be the certain position that triggers the pain.This doesn't mean the best course of action is keep up the said activity in the hope your neck will improve.
If you can stretch your neck in ways that don't aggrivate your neck,and you can stretch your hamstrings in ways that don't aggrivate your neck,use those positions instead.
Dragon.
Dragon, thanx but check this out:
Big clarification I seem to have to start moving my head back while im going down and keeping my back straight (i.e Head goes in the opposite direction of my body, )Don't you think that this is really unusual since its so sensitive and could be related to the neck pain i get when i grapple and put myself In odd positions. So what im thinking is maybe I should loosen up my neck from unusual position(hamstring stretch) and just be sure to take it easy with the stretch (and not to actually stretch the hams themselves, just be in that position) itself so I don't stretch ligaments of the spine like you said.
Big clarification I seem to have to start moving my head back while im going down and keeping my back straight (i.e Head goes in the opposite direction of my body, )Don't you think that this is really unusual since its so sensitive and could be related to the neck pain i get when i grapple and put myself In odd positions. So what im thinking is maybe I should loosen up my neck from unusual position(hamstring stretch) and just be sure to take it easy with the stretch (and not to actually stretch the hams themselves, just be in that position) itself so I don't stretch ligaments of the spine like you said.
Lokking forwards and keeping your chest out is used to eliminate rounding of the spine.At the very least i personally would keep my head in a neutral position.I(again,personally) would never tuck my chin in.Todd wrote:I seem to have to start moving my head back while im going down and keeping my back straight (i.e Head goes in the opposite direction of my body, )Don't you think that this is really unusual since its so sensitive and could be related to the neck pain i get when i grapple and put myself In odd positions.
As for whether it could be related to your neck pain-I'm unable to diagnose any condition,i'm not a doctor.
I think it would be better to get a professional(sports doctor or coach) to observe all of your training methods rather than a self diagnosis.Todd wrote: So what im thinking is maybe I should loosen up my neck from unusual position(hamstring stretch) and just be sure to take it easy with the stretch.
You are assuming that it's inflexibility(and maybe it is),but as i said in an earlier post,it could be something else.
Stretching in that position may be the worst thing you can do.
Again,there may be better positions for you to stretch your neck in that will still provide you with a good stretch without the discomfort.Todd wrote:(and not to actually stretch the hams themselves, just be in that position) itself so I don't stretch ligaments of the spine like you said.
One more thing-You don't say whether you are performing this hamstring stretch(touch toes,feet together) seated or standing.
The standing version will be more intense due to gravity.Also,if you're tucking your chin in and holding this relaxed stretch for a long period two things could happen.
1.You'll become light headed.
2.In the standing version you will relax the muscles of your back more.Great care must be taken when getting out of this position.Rather than just standing up,you would be better to bend your knees and squat down first.
Dragon.