Should it hurt?
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I had this problem too, i have been told by my instructor that i am not holding my neck/back correctly, i need to pull from stomach not from neck, look at ceiling not down at chest when pulling up from sit ups/ crunches as this pulls neck also.
Saying that i still cant manage it so i now use a yoga ball for crunche and sit ups its amazing no tension to my neck/back put can fel it working.
Good Luck!
It must have been that you didn't stretch your neck muscles. What type of fitness? Cardio? Aerobics?
Do you mean ABS? were you doing lots of stomach crunches? I get lots of bother with neck pain when I do crunches. I know when the instructor tells you the technique you are meant to put your hands at your head and only touch with your fingertips. The reason you shouldn't hold your head when doing crunches is that you tend to "pull" yourself up, therefore not getting the full benefit of the exercise in your abs. I tend to link my fingers and place my hands behind my neck to support it. I grip around my neck to hold it still and firm while I do the movement. You could also try putting your chin to your chest and trying to keep it there while you crunch. Ask your class instructor about modifying techniques which should help alleviate strain on your neck.
if you are new to exercise the body needs time to adjust.
also prior to exercise you need to do a few warm ups beforehand.try moving your neck to the side and then bring it back.keep swapping sides then that should ease the pain a bit.
Never, ever put your hands behind your neck when doing sit ups. The muscles at the back of your neck are only there to hold your head up straight. They are not very strong and are easily strained by pulling on your neck. Place your finger tips at your temples or cross your arms over your chest.
Supporting your neck while doing crunches & situps is 'contra-indicated' (banned) because this can cause neck pain, and even damage. Some people will pull on their neck with their hands, and this causes the muscles in the neck to react, by pulling against the pull from the hands. Doing this 'isometric' neck exercise is extremely unsafe while your attention is elsewhere (on the abdominal work).
Contra-indication is dangerous, and should be banned. Instructors should instead be taught to identify the people who perform the moves in an unsafe way, and correct their technique. In a large, fast-moving class, the instructor never has time to provide this kind of individual instruction. If anything should be contra-indicated it is these large, impersonal classes.
Some people can move their neck in a 'neutral' way while performing situps and crunches, without feeling any pain. For others, the neck movement is difficult. Trying to keep your neck as long as possible, and your breathing deep & relaxed, can help with this problem. Alexander Technique can help you to identify and correct postural habits (such as neck positioning) that cause pain either generally or during particular activities. Pilates classes can also teach you 'core' (abs, sides, back & breathing muscles) exercises that will not strain your neck in the way that situps and crunches can.
Supporting your neck can also help, but it is difficult to tell whether you are really supporting, or pulling. Most people who can benefit from the support, are also very vulnerable to the damage that pulling can cause.
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