Cervical Instability 👤
Does your head ever feel too heavy? You have important ligaments in your neck that can also be “too loose” when you’re hypermobile. Is this dangerous? What can we do about it? Let’s get into it!
It helps to understand the anatomy of the neck. Your skull sits on top of your upper cervical segments (top spinal segments). These segments are called the atlas and the axis. They are really secure joints with really strong ligaments. As we’ve talked about previously, ligaments connect bones and are impacted by hypermobility, hence why someone may say you have “loose ligaments”. These segments may move more than we’d like, causing anything from neck tension to vascular or neurological complications. It sounds really scary, but there is thankfully a lot we can do about it! Let’s chat about a few ways we can help manage this condition.
See the animation below for a visual of these segments.
We can strengthen the neck just like any other joint in the body!
Stability: This involves both building muscular strength while also improving neurological connections. Proprioceptive training can be a huge symptom reliever! I’ve linked a tool I really like as well as a free video on how to use it to build neck proprioception at the bottom of this email.
Bracing: Neck braces can be really helpful on days when your neck feels extra stretchy if you need extra support. You can also use k tape to improve awareness of where you’re holding your neck.
Protecting your Neck: You don’t need to necessarily walk around with fear that your head is going to fall off; however, I do think that it is wise to stay away from both high velocity neck adjustments and bumpy wooden roller coasters.
We have a variety of resources to help you start working on this. including free workouts and recommended products. Whether or not you choose to pursue a diagnosis, strengthening should be essential to build a more stable neck.
We’re going to expand more on this topic during Empower Hour live this Saturday at 11am ET for Pocket PT members! Grab a free 7 day trial at the link below to join us or watch the recording anytime from your Pocket PT app.
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This blog is written based on personal experience and is not medical advice. Always ask your doctor for individual concerns and support.