Training your muscles, joints, and heart matters as an athlete. But what about your neck? Your neck can easily get hurt when you participate in contact sports or activities with sudden impacts or movements. You need a strong and flexible neck to avoid injuries, boost your performance, and improve your quality of life.
Exercises called iron neck training concentrate on the neck's muscles, ligaments, and nerves. It involves using a device called an iron neck, which is a head harness attached to a resistance band. The iron neck allows you to move your head in different directions while applying a controlled amount of tension to your neck. This helps make your neck muscles stronger and more flexible and enhances your ability to move and align your head.
Iron-neck training can provide many benefits for athletes of all levels and disciplines. Some of the benefits are:
Injury Prevention
You can avoid many neck injuries, like whiplash, concussions, strains, sprains, and fractures, with iron neck training. It strengthens neck muscles, so you can protect your spine and brain from harm if you sustain a hit or experience a fall. You can improve your balance and stability and avoid losing control of your body during intense movements.
Performance Enhancement
You can improve your performance in sports involving head movements, such as boxing, wrestling, rugby, soccer, hockey, and martial arts, with iron neck training. It strengthens and stretches your neck, so you can move faster, strike harder, target better, and endure longer. You can gain an edge over your opponents by withstanding their attempts to control your neck or head.
Quality of Life Improvement
Iron neck training can improve your life by easing pain, stiffness, and tension in your neck. It can also help you avoid headaches, migraines, jaw problems, and other issues caused by poor neck health by improving your posture and alignment. You can also enjoy better sleep quality and mood by relaxing your neck muscles and nerves.
Iron neck training is easy and does not require much time or equipment. You can do it at home or the gym with an iron neck device and a resistance band. Here are some steps to follow:
Attach the iron neck device to your head and adjust it to fit comfortably and securely
Attach the resistance band to a fixed point at eye level or lower
Standing or sitting with your feet shoulder-width apart and your back straight, turn away from the fixed point
Keep your chin parallel to the ground while slowly moving your head from side to side. Your neck muscles should feel somewhat stretched.
Repeat the movement for 10 to 15 repetitions on each side
Change the direction of the resistance band and repeat the exercise facing toward the fixed point
You can also tilt your head up and down or in circles to target other neck regions
Do iron neck training two to three times a week for optimal results
Iron neck training is a straightforward yet efficient technique to protect your neck from harm and enhance your athletic ability. You can enjoy a stronger, healthier neck by incorporating it into your routine.
For more on iron neck training, visit Core Chiropractic at our Topeka, Kansas office. Call (785) 408-7150 to schedule an appointment today.