Neck exercises target various muscles in the neck and can improve flexibility, range of motion, and strength. Different types of exercises include flexion, rotation, and extension, and they can be used for rehabilitation or prevention of injuries.
The neck muscles provide support for the head and allow the neck to move. Neck exercises are those that engage the neck muscles, of which there are many, including the deltoid muscle, trapezius muscle, scalene muscles, sternocleidomastoid muscle, levator scapulae muscle, and splenius muscle in the back. . At the front of the neck, one can find the thyrohyoid muscle, the omohyoid (upper) muscle, the sternohyoid muscle, and the omohyoid (lower) muscle. Note that although it is appropriate to call all of these neck muscles since they are in the neck, some of them, such as the trapezius muscle, are also partially in the back, while others attach to a part of the skull or the jaw.
There are different types of neck exercises that are carried out for different purposes. Neck exercises include exercises that directly target the neck and exercises that aid in the recovery or prevention of neck injuries. Therefore, there are some exercises that are “for” the neck, but do not primarily involve the neck.
One of the purposes of neck exercises is to increase flexibility and range of motion. These exercises can be part of a standard exercise program or part of a post-injury rehabilitation program. They can also be done to help keep your neck loose and relaxed to prevent or relieve tension headaches.
Strengthening is another purpose of neck exercises. This type of exercise can be part of a general exercise program, intended to prepare for participation in a sport where neck strength is important, or be an aspect of rehabilitation from injury. Pressing against resistance is a key aspect of strengthening your neck muscles.
Neck exercises can involve several different types of movement. Some are done while sitting in a chair, and these are the easiest neck exercises to describe in words. The pushup is one of those types. In flexion exercises, the rest of the body is held straight and still while the head is bent to the left or right so that the ear on that side moves toward the shoulder.
Rotation is another type of neck exercise. In rotation exercises, the rest of the body is held still and the neck rotates, with the face turning to the right or left. In flexion, the head is bent forward with the chin drawn in toward the chest. In contrast, in extension exercises, the head is tilted back so that the chin points to the ceiling.
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