The forgotten core of the neck

WRITTEN BY:  MICHELLE MILLNER, PT, DPT, OCS

Core. We hear that word a lot in the rehab and fitness industry.  It’s usually associated with abdominal exercises, crunches, push ups, the list goes on.  But did you know that your neck has a core also?  Earlier last year, I posted about how the deep abdominal muscles stabilize the spine.  Turns out, there are a plethora of muscles, ligaments, and tendons that function in a similar manner to stabilize your neck.

Unlike our lower back and pelvis which is meant to be very stable, the neck is meant to move easily but also be stable enough to keep our heads up high and allow for a stable base for our shoulders and arms to move off of.

Unfortunately, because of poor postural habits we often overuse the larger muscles on the back side of our necks (the traps) and under use the deep stabilizing muscles that go from segment to segment and wrap around the neck.  This creates an imbalance in stability making us prone to overuse injuries (sprains, strains) of the muscles and tendons of those large muscles, which can lead to a pain in the neck.

While not all pain stems from this imbalance, when it does it can be addressed by prescribing and implementing the appropriate strengthening program.  Just like those core muscles in your abdomen, the core muscles of the neck may need a good exercise program.

If you suffer from neck pain, consider contacting us for an evaluation to determine if your problem is an imbalance or some other underlying condition.