Ask Dr. Nick
On today’s episode, Dr. Nick talks about the importance of neck strength in decreasing concussion risk. For a concussion to occur, the head does not need to be contacted; but rather, there must be a fast movement of the head. More specifically, the head must have high rotational acceleration in any direction. The neck can prevent this fast rotation of the head if the muscles are strong and able to activate quickly. There is evidence that both neck muscle strength and injury reduction programs that include neck exercises can decrease the risk of head and neck injuries including concussion. Check out the video for more in depth information on why neck exercises should be performed to decrease concussion risk!
Elliott J, Heron N, Versteegh T, et al. Injury Reduction Programs for Reducing the Incidence of Sport-Related Head and Neck Injuries Including Concussion: A Systematic Review. Sports Med. 2021;51(11):2373-2388.
