Expert: Neck Strengthening Should Be Mandatory In Sports To Reduce Head Injury | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

According to the American Sports Education Program, 400,000 athletes across the country suffered a head injury between 2005 and 2008 and millions of people suffer a concussion each year while participating in a sport or activity. In many of these cases, coaches, players, and parents are often unsure with how to treat these concussions and head injuries. In some of these cases, players suffered debilitating and tragic traumatic brain injuries.

Now one man, Mike Gittleson, a former strength and conditioning coach for college football, believes that head injuries could be greatly reduced in high school and college sports by putting an extra emphasis on neck strengthening. Gittleson now travels the country as a consultant, getting high schools and colleges to add neck training to their practices. Most recently, Gittleson spoke at the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches annual convention. At the same time, researchers are investigating if there is indeed a significant connection between neck strength and head injuries.