The head and neck muscular system is a complex anatomical structure. There are more head and neck muscles than degrees of freedom allowing individuals to exhibit a large variation of neck muscle activation strategies for accomplishing the same task intra-individually. 

When returning to play following a concussion, whiplash, nerve or muscle trauma a health practitioner’s protocol must contain a measurable component of strength to restore each muscle to normalcy. This decreases the post traumatic tendency to substitute muscle and movement by the athlete to further protect the injured area ensuring safety. Returning strength to normal enhances recovery both physically and neurally.

Head and neck muscles can be thought of as two distinct muscular units, the musculature that moves the head and the muscles that move the cervical spine. Each unit must be trained to maximize development. Ongoing strength values should be collected to aid in overall muscular fitness and retained for post injury assessment in returning a student-athlete to their appropriate functional strength levels. 

Get your athletes head, neck and traps Strong and always keep track of their strength levels in this crucial area.