Neck Pain and Athletes: Running Injuries

The neck is an area where stress can have a tendency to accumulate. The sight of someone grabbing the back of their neck and squeezing is all too common, and for runners, the likelihood of having neck pain problems is high.

If you stop and think for one moment that the head, which weighs about 10% of the body weight, is like a bowling ball sitting on top of a relatively thin structure, known as your neck. With all of the prior traumas we've had, from slipping on ice to whiplashes in car/bike accidents, it's not hard to believe that many runner's necks have been injured, re-injured and never fully healed, as most of us only treat neck pain that is bad, not conditions until they are corrected. A little pain medication ultimately relieves neck pain to a degree of tolerance, and most of us are content with that.

Well, for those who want a better and more productive program, read on. First of all, the neck has what is known as a lordotic curve. On standing x-ray, there is a very specific curve that is supposed to appear in the neck when looking at a person from the side. Looking head on, the spine is supposed to be straight.

Keeping in mind that the neck is much like the top floor of a building and acts in a compensatory manner to any imbalances or defects in the arches of the feet, curves of the low back, etc., it sometimes is important to look beyond the neck if chronic problems occur.

Be that as it may, in most cases, muscle tightness is the primary problem in neck problems. This tightness cause people to reach levels of total exasperation. The tightness is usually a result of locked joints in the neck which is usually a result of recent or past injuries. The key to success with all neck problems is to restore as much motion to the joints of the neck as possible and then to restore the normal curvature and alignment to the spine as possible. Once these two objectives have been met, then a maintenance program is indicated. This is different for everyone as all of us require different amounts of work to heal.

In an acute injury, ice is always beneficial. If x-rays haven't been taken in the past 2 years, updated standing neck x-rays are imperative. A good sports chiropractor is a must as runners are predisposed more to neck problems because of the continual compression with each stride. This increases the likelihood of joint locking in the neck producing muscle tightness, pinched nerves, etc.

Material provided by The Running Doctor