How Do You Prevent Head And Neck Injuries In Football?
Head and neck injuries are common among football players of all levels and abilities. But the high-contact, physical nature of football requires the right conditioning and proper strength training. There is more to safety than simply wearing appropriate equipment; developing the right neck and upper-body muscles is essential to safely sustain blows to the neck and head. Learn and maintain the proper posture during a tackle or block. Due to the spinal makeup of our neck and back, you must lean forward and keep your head up in a neutral position (eyes forward). This allows some of the blunt force endured during the tackle to be absorbed by your neck. If you lower your head, it straightens your spine and the impact goes straight to your vertebrae, which can cause injury. Strengthen your neck muscles. The best exercises for developing these muscles are isometric, which means you use resistance behind, in front of and on either side of the head. Place one hand on your face, beside your ear.
