Exercises To Strengthen The Neck: RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!

Physical therapists and personal trainers often LOVE to prescribe exercises to strengthen the neck muscles (upper trapezius, scalene, etc.). This is MADNESS.

I'll tell you how a video on how to strengthen the scalene muscles has caused thoracic outlet syndrome. But I will also explain the anthropological reason why you don't need a strong neck (nor a strong chest, btw). Hence, we'll introduce two key concepts

- balance / posture muscles
- work / play muscles

and discuss why they need to be treated differently.

Fixing your posture is about understanding what you do, why you do it, and how you do it. Don't follow all the exercises you find on the net: many will harm your health!

---

Pain in the back, shoulder, arms or any other musculoskeletal pain should not govern your life.

A lot of the pain you feel is caused or aggravated by wrong posture, poor ergonomics and a lack of specific exercises for your muscles and joints. Giving you the tools to resolve these issues is the reason why I created this self care channel.

If you need more, check out these two innovative offers that will truly empower you in the subtle art of posture correction:

---

Medical Disclaimer
All information, content, and material of this website is for informational purposes only and are not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider.

Full disclaimer:

[driftingpaperboat]

In a sea of information driven by isolated, myopic logic, Olivier's wide angle approach is a life saver. Thank you so much for guiding the direction of my recovery, saves me so much pain. 🙏

[stevenmurphy]

Thank you for such great content and information. And helping to separate health fact from health fiction.

[lfb]

That’s a really interesting approach I’ll buy your book and give it a try

[fastnfuriousu]

I agree with you, it's just the one exercise when you're pushing the head back and resisting with crossed hands worked for me, for realigning the neck 👍

[Sprintserbia]

How long should we hold that bend? How many times a day? I'm also doing lower trap arm raises with a resistance band.

[Joseluis..]

What if I injured my neck from popping it ? Would I need to strengthen it ?

[Maalik.]

I normally agree with most of what you say, but this time I'm not so sure.

The human head is the most important body part, and having a strong neck helps to lessen the concessionary force If we were to get in an accident.

The head is also one of the most heavy body parts and therefore having a strong neck and traps is beneficial, I think.

[vandarth]

I've heard that you can strengthen the deep neck flexors, but not other neck muscles. Is this true? I haven't seen you mention this before so I wondered if it's something that's not safe. Should I avoid deep neck flexor exercises too?

[stevenmurphy]

Hello sir. Do you have any stretches or protocols to relieve back of neck spasms. Particularly when lying in bed on back. Thanks for all the great information.

[sammybroadfield]

Hello sir, is there any gym exercises that could help me with my forward head posture and rounded shoulders, and if so could you make a video on it . I was watching some yo

[colinwright]

Interesting....the advice you're giving here is the complete opposite to what my chiropractors tell me...i'm not saying that you are wrong; i'm just pointing out that i'm now getting conflicting opinions...i follow your videos avidly and have put much of what you have said into practice....i have a disc herniation at L5/S1 and a bulge at L4/L5....but I also have cervical spondylosis (hereditary) so i do get a lot of neck pain....when I walk I get 'locked up' in the neck and trapezius areas; this causes dizziness; a sense of being off balance and great pressure on top of the head pushing down...i've had xrays and mri scans which reveal nothing 'scary'; my doctors and chiropractors/osteopaths tell me it's the spondylosis....their solutions? do exercises to strengthen my neck! yet olivier says NO!....you can now see why I'm confused and worried...what shall i do please?

[swesolowskaborowy]

What about cervical instability and weak upper body and neck muscles. Wouldn’t strengthening these help? Strong muscles mean better stabilisation of joints/ spine etc.

[boost-]

I have a old whiplash injury and also loss in lordosis. My head is falling forward because of neck weakness, seems like extensors and side of neck. It's taking my whole body forward into a swayback. Have developed TMJ issues from my jaw trying to hold up my neck. Have a sense my body is collapsing axially and that I need to work on the whole extensor chain, including the neck. Uphill task with strengthening when I cannot get into neutral posture. Am fighting against compensations. What would you suggest?

[colinwright]

love your videos...please can you check your microphone/sound system? your latest videos are not as clear voice wise as your previous ones....sounds like you're speaking in a tunnel

[kushisheela]

Very few talk about strengthening muscles. Everyone only teach stretches. You are the one who always emphasise on strengthening muscles Thank you Sir.

[dinoarmazem]

What can you do for migraine linked to occipital area ;

[chiragshah]

I think it's fair to say that people shouldn't assume they need to strengthen the neck. But a blanket statement against strengthening your neck is just as incorrect. And using the caveman lifestyle as justification is ridiculous.

[rudedogs]

Someone please call Mike Tyson and let him know the news ?

[jasond]

It's so frustrating to find not only dozens of competing modalities but also entirely opposite opinions on what to do about neck muscle issues. That's not to say anything negative about your approach or knowledge. But can't there be instances where strengthening is needed and other instances where it's not? Or is it really that black and white? And if it is, doesn't it seem like the results of the wrong ways would be self evident and naturally fall out of favor? Like if nobody is experiencing any benefit from neck strengthening and it's only harming them how is that not universally recognized by all professionals in the field by now? Simply doesn't make sense to me.

[aliissa]

Talks a lot without showing the excercises