Neck Pain After Squatting - The Attraction Forums

jughead4466 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-05-2008, 04:10 PM

I don't have the slightest idea what just happened to me. Right after I did a warmup squat, my neck started to hurt like crazy. The pain would be in the back of my neck from the base of my skull down to my shoulders. I literally couldn't move (tilt, twist, anything besides keep it straight) for atleast a minute. I started to rub my neck muscles and it started to subside. I thought it was a freak thing so I loaded up my normal weight. I started to squat (ATG style) and I didn't feel a thing in my neck. However, right after I racked the bar my neck started to throb. This time it was more severe and I stopped squatting after that.

I figured I should lay off the squats for a little bit (that means deadlifts too dangit), and went to go workout my chest. I went to the machine iso-lateral bench press to warmup, and I could feel the pain again as I started to press the weight.

I soon left the gym after that.

This has never happened to me before. The weight i've been using isn't too much, because I did the exact same weight last week (mon, wed, and fri 5x5). My form hasn't changed as well...hopefully.

Anyone have any idea what could of happened?

Oh and it WASN'T in the smith machine btw.

Vapor · #2 (**permalink**) 05-05-2008, 04:13 PM

Go with lighter weight and work your way up more slowly. Positioning the bar lower would help, but if you are doing ATG squats a low bar doesn't work for most guys.

angelo25 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-05-2008, 08:13 PM

the only thing i could think of is bad form maybe, or the bar could of strained a nerve or something, also you might not of stretched properly before

HeartBreaker · #4 (**permalink**) 05-07-2008, 09:38 AM

I agree with vapor. It sounds like the bar might be too high. For now, lower the weight and try a different program like 4x 10. You could also try using a pad till the pain goes away.

The Don · #5 (**permalink**) 05-08-2008, 02:36 PM

The bar should probably be lower... It should be on your neck at all. It should almost below your traps where they meet your back. There's kind of a notch there when you reach back for the bar. Try going light and shifting the bar further down to get a feel for it...

jughead4466 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-08-2008, 10:31 PM

i'm 99% that it was my form, because i squatted yesterday and everything was fine.

It's weird though, i've always been conscious about my form so I don't know why my form lacked on that day.

Ca1amity · #7 (**permalink**) 05-08-2008, 11:40 PM

Mix it up with front squats for a while. It really improves your form.