How I Fought Neck Pain And Won!

Here we are just over two months into the year. I’m not the resolution type, but there are certainly some aspects of fitness and wellness that I wanted to focus on this year; the most significant being my neck. 

About one year ago, I had been training gymnastics with hopes that I would improve my ‘floreios’ for capoeira. I was definitely improving with my understanding of the movement demands for gymnastics; so much so that one of the coaches thought the next step was for me to attempt a back tuck on a trampoline. So I went up and came down–right on my neck and shoulder. I felt two pops in my neck as that happened and, my first thought was, “thankfully, I can use my arms and feel everything”. When I reflect on that moment, I realize how much life could have been considerably different had I been hurt worse. Nevertheless, I was left with neck pain and limited range of motion. 

Throughout last year and the beginning of this year, I’ve found time to work on my cervical and thoracic mobility on a semi-regular basis (could be more) as I can tell that, though my neck still bothers me at times, I no longer have the pain into my right scapula or elbow that I used to. It was so frustrating to wash dishes and feel pain!

I think what I have enjoyed most, despite living with intermittent pain, is the new set of exercises that I’ve learned to incorporate into, not only my own mobility program, but those of my clients. Who knew that holding a kettlebell near your ribs while also fully rotating your spine could work wonders?

And the journey continues…