Sport is good, there is no doubt about it. Sometimes, however, after an effort headaches can come. Here are the activities most at risk.
That sport and exercise are good for you is now out of the question. However, when not performed correctly, “power” sports such as bodybuilding or other types of sports can cause pain in different parts of the body, including the cervical vertebrae.
Here are some of the “incriminated” exercises.
Flat bench
This tool tends to work areas already subjected to constant efforts during daily life. Incorrect execution can lead to excessive strain, wear or tear on muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones and joints, with damage that can become severe.
Focusing on this type of equipment without associating exercises that develop or work on the muscles of the upper back and neck, leads to excessive strengthening of the pectoral muscles and shoulders, while the neck and upper spine muscles remain “weak”.
This muscular imbalance can result in the so-called “turtle back”: it is an incorrect posture in which you tend to stretch your neck forward. In a similar situation, the cervical is around the corner.
Leg extension
Leg extension exercises also put the balance of the body muscles at risk. They tend to work on strengthening the anterior muscles of the legs, excluding the posterior muscle counterpart.
The situation of imbalance that is created favors the onset of back pain.
Sit-up
When practicing these exercises, tension is frequent in the neck and upper back muscles.
It is essential to get help from an experienced personal trainer who indicates the correct position, to avoid subjecting the cervical vertebrae to excessive load.
Jogging
In recent years, jogging has become one of the most popular sports. More and more people are practicing it, but often without adequate basic preparation.
Even running, in fact, can have contraindications, such as:
- microtraumas to the joints
- imbalances and asymmetries, with increased load of some body districts, including the back and, in particular, the cervical tract
- The continuous repetition of steps that are always the same tends to strengthen some parts of the body, neglecting others.
Balance is fundamental
When practicing physical activity it is necessary to work in a balanced way, trying to involve different areas of the body and avoiding strengthening only some muscles, to the detriment of others.
Those who often suffer from cervical should seek advice from their doctor or a qualified personal trainer before trying. Improving physical fitness, without burdening the cervical, is possible as long as you do it with balance.
Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.
The blog covers a wide range of topics related to health and wellness, with articles organized into several categories.