Neck Tightness - Try This Brain-Based Drill

Do you have a tight neck?

Try this drill (you can follow along with the video):

1. Assess your neck range of motion

2. Push the tip of the tongue on the roof of the mouth

3. Look with your eyes on a target high and then at a target low. Switch 10x up/down while keeping your head still and the tip of your tongue on the roof.

4. Reassess.

Every brain responds differently.

Outcome:

If you have less neck tightness and more range of motion after doing the drill = great, perform this drill throughout the day

No change in neck tightness but better range of motion = try to do the drill seated and reassess

No change in neck tightness and no change or less range of motion = this drill may not be the right one for you at this time - stay tuned for another drill soon

For the science geeks a simplified neuro explanation:

Pushing the tip of the tongue activates the hypoglossal nerve, also known as cranial never XII, and is primarily responsible for most tongue movement. Cranial nerve XII lies next to cranial nerve XI. Parts that ly next to each other in the brain influence each other. The accessory spinal nerve (cranial nerve XI) supplies the sternocleidomastoid (muscle on the side/front of your neck) and the trapezius muscles and is essential for neck and shoulder movement. The bottom line, pushing the tip of the tongue on the roof can relax the neck muscles.

The eyes and neck are closely connected via a variety of reflexes and pathways. One of them is the spino-cerebellar pathway. The cerebellum's job is to control movement including eye movement. Moving the eyes will also activate the cerebellum. When the cerebellum is activated, signals will also be sent to the spine via the spino-cerebellar tract.

The eye-neck connection is very complex and it is just important to understand that there is a connection that can be utilized to feel better. Eye drills can help with neck pain.

Join this Thursday's NeuroHP Live Session to learn more amazing brain-based drills.