'' the neck and neural impingement is a common problem for most people but it affects bodybuilders more than the average person because of the extreme forces strength athletes transfer through their neck .''
in bone , cartilage , muscle , ligaments and fascia . They are found throughout the body and stimulation of these pain receptors can be caused by overuse , chemicals , accidents , inflammation or connective tissue scaring .
Neural impingement affects our bodies in different ways but the main problem is that it plays a big role in disrupting the functioning of our Central Nervous System ( CNS ). The two main systems of our CNS are the sympathetic and the para-sympathetic branches . The sympathetic branch is the consciously controlled stuff . Things like conscious muscle contraction , technique or the form we use are all controlled by the sympathetic branch . Its your fight or flight nervous system and calls your body to action when needed . The parasympathetic system regulates all your unconscious functions . Breathing , heart rate , blood pressure , digestion , hormonal cycles , sleep / wake cycles and healing are all parasympathetic responses and functions . These two branches with their complimentary actions need to be balanced and functioning correctly if you want your body to respond to training and diet .
Another problem with a compromised CNS is the problems it causes with cerebrospinal fluid flow . CSF is probably not often covered in bodybuilding magazines but if you want a body functioning optimally then it ’ s vital that this flow isn ’ t impeded in anyway . It ’ s a clear , colourless fluid and your body produces about 400 to 500ml a day in the choroid plexus of the brain . The brain floats in this CSF and it acts as a cushion for the brain and spinal cord . It also plays a large part in the chemical stability of the CNS as it rinses drugs and metabolic waste from the CNS as well as transports hormones to remote areas of the brain . The natural flow from the brain down the spinal cord and back is important for bodily health ( think clear , flowing mountain stream as opposed to a stagnant , green pond and you get the idea ). Dr John Upledger ( a craniosacral pioneer ) believed strongly that tension around the CNS caused irregularities in the cerebrospinal fluid flow .
The pneumogastric nerve , more commonly known as the vagus nerve is the biggest nerve in your body and has 13 main branches . These branches include control over bodily functions such as breathing , swallowing , speaking , heartbeat , digestion , constriction of blood vessels and bronchial tubes , liver function , gall bladder activity and pancreatic function . If tension states within the body impinge or restrict this nerve in any way and compromise the above mentioned functions , your training , digestion , nutrient uptake , waste removal , growth and healing ( vital functions for bodybuilders ) all become problematic .
A common neural impingement problem among strength athletes is thoracic outlet syndrome . Symptoms of this condition can include neck or shoulder pain , numbness or tingling down the arm as well as circulatory problems or weakness . Clavicle fractures , poor posture , asymmetrical muscle development as well as tension states in the middle and anterior scalenes can impinge on the brachial plexus or subclavian vessels causing discomfort and pain . This makes training at the required intensity level to build lean muscle that much harder . Compression at the angle between the coracoid process and pectoralis insertion can also impinge on the nerves there . This commonly manifests as pain in the anterior deltoid while benching or training the
'' incorrectly performing squats and deadlifts can cause the si joints to “ lock up . this creates an uneven pelvis and can lead to pain and discomfort in different parts of the body .''
pectoralis muscles .
Squatting and deadlifting extreme weights are fantastic exercises to promote strength , growth and an anabolic response . The problem with these exercises though is that if performed incorrectly they place a tremendous amount of strain on the thoracolumbar fascia of the back , most times causing the SI joints to “ lock up ”. This creates an uneven pelvis and this situation can lead to pain and discomfort in different parts of the body .
The neck and neural impingement is a common problem for most people but it affects bodybuilders more than the average person because of the extreme forces strength athletes transfer through their neck . The cervical vertebrae can respond to physical and emotional stress in rather unique and interesting ways because it isn ’ t embedded as securely in bony and myofascial structures like the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae . There is a lot of dural attachment on the neck and so cervical nerve irritation is very common . This can lead to shoulder or arm pain , neck pain and tempero-mandibular joint ( TMJ ) problems . If you consider that a TMJ that is misaligned can change the PH of your saliva which in turn affects the intestinal flora of your stomach , you can see why some therapists claim it ’ s the most important joint in your body .
Nerve irritation , impingement or restriction can cause misalignment in the body which in turn can compromise CNS functioning . The 1981 Nobel Prize for Medicine Laureate , Dr Rodger Sperry , had this to say about tension states in the body and how they affect the nervous system “ Better than 90 % of the energy output of the brain is used in relating the physical body in its gravitational field . The more mechanically distorted a person is the less energy available for thinking , metabolism and healing .” So train with intensity , diet with conviction and above all else make sure your CNS is functioning at its best . M . E
Sean Johnson is a Bowen Practitioner and Instructor , with a practice based in Randburg , Johannesburg . He has played provincial rugby at senior level in South Africa and in Australia . Following a herniated disc Sean ’ s playing career was in jeopardy , but he then found Bowen Therapy and made a successful return to the field . Bowen Therapy did what doctors said was impossible , which had an indelible impact on Sean ’ s life . He therefore became a certified Bowen practitioner and later an instructor . Email sean @ bowentechnique . co . za for more info or visit him at The Yoga Republic in Gertrude Road , Fontainbleau . www . muscleevolution . co . za 25