#57 - Neck Tweaks, Tension Headaches, & Dizziness in Barbell Training - What you need to know!

How you position your gaze and maintain your neck position when you lift is important. Your body's balance responds to your neck and eye position so when you are barbell training, it's important to keep your neck still and your eyes fixed to one point. 

The position of the cervical spine when you lift is extremely important because many of the muscles that support the bar and shoulders attach to the cervical spine. Additionally, the neurovascular structures responsible for innervating the limbs, brain, and organs all pass through the neck. 

When we do not pay close attention to the position of our neck and eye gaze while weight training, you may experience some problems like:

1. Tension headaches

2. Dizziness

3. Radicular pain in the arms

4. Upper extremity weakness

5. Stiff neck

Why do you get dizzy, headaches, a stiff neck, etc. when you barbell train?

1. Stiffness in shoulders, hips, or thoracic spine causes you to get  range from another area in the body.

2. The position of the bar relative to your neck causes tension on the neurovascular structures in the neck.

3. Too much movement in the cervical spine when you lift. This area should remain stable to protect the joints and neurovascular structures which aren't meant to be loaded as much as the other areas of the body 

In this episode of the PRS Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Rori Alter and Dr. Alyssa Haveson discuss position of the cervical spine and neck injuries in barbell training and powerlifting.

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