The neck consists of at least nine muscles, each of which play different roles in the movement of the neck. It is one of the most versatile muscles in the body with some of the muscles allowing the head and neck to rotate, yaw and demonstrate roll and pitch. This is known as the “three degrees of freedom”. In this article I discuss the benefits of training your neck muscles and outline a number of ways that you can build your neck muscles.
Many people are unaware of how to build their neck muscles and often neglect it in their weight training routines. Even some professional athletes fail to train their neck muscles. Indeed, neck injuries are common in high contact sports and the level of neck injuries could be reduced if the athletes involved were taught how to build their neck muscles properly. Neglecting the neck muscles can also lead to an imbalance being formed around your shoulder and back area sometimes giving you a hunched look. Therefore, it makes sense to make your neck muscles part of your overall weight training routine.
Apart from reduced injury, building your neck muscles can also improve your overall performance in sports and give your body a better overall look. Below I have outlined some top tips to help build your neck muscles:
1) WARM UP:- Before starting to work your neck muscles it is very important to warm up properly. The neck is one muscle you do not want to injure. To begin your warm up lightly rotate the neck from side to side. Do not make full revolutions as this is not good for the neck.
2) LIGHT HAND RESISTANCE:- When you begin the actual workout, light resistance against the hand is a good idea. Using heavy resistance to train your neck is not a good idea as the neck contains many nerves that you do not want to get pinched. It is also unnecessary because the neck can benefit from just a few, simple, light workouts.
3) NECK HARNESS:- A neck harness is another useful way to build your neck muscles. They can be purchased for a reasonable price online.
4) SPECIALISED GYM EQUIPMENT:- This equipment is quite difficult to find because it is primarily used by physiotherapists to help those recovering from neck and back injuries. However, if you are lucky enough to find a gym which has such equipment it is useful way to diversify your neck training routine.
I hope this article has outlined the importance of building your neck muscles. This training does not have to be intensive. A light workout using your hands as resistance will do just fine. When training be aware that the neck can be easily injured so you should consult a qualified instructor before you begin. However, whatever you do make sure that you do not neglect the neck.