In a sea of information driven by isolated, myopic logic, Olivier's wide angle approach is a life saver. Thank you so much for guiding the direction of my recovery, saves me so much pain. 🙏
I agree with you, it's just the one exercise when you're pushing the head back and resisting with crossed hands worked for me, for realigning the neck 👍
The chin tuck exercise, right? Sure, sometimes there's a result... it's a question of risks vs benefits ratio: ruclips.net/video/-3BVaQ-WZhE/видео.html :)
I've heard that you can strengthen the deep neck flexors, but not other neck muscles. Is this true? I haven't seen you mention this before so I wondered if it's something that's not safe. Should I avoid deep neck flexor exercises too?
I wouldn't strengthen anything... for 3 reasons: - you don't need to, unless you do dangerous things such as boxing... in which case the real question is: if health is your main goal, should you box? - it's not easy (probably it's even impossible) to isolate the deep muscles from the others - even if you would manage to isolate the deep muscles, strengthening them will increase the compression forces between the cervical vertebrae, which isn't a great idea. Makes sense?
@Olivier Girard - the Posture Guy mine are imbalanced. SCM, Splenius muscles, Scalenes. If you say not to strengthen them, then pray tell how to resolve the imbalances. There's too much conflicting info out here
@@Jeffro_boy you're under this impression because you of 2 methodological errors: 1) like most patients and their therapists, you forget that strengthening (i.e. pushing muscle tonus upwards) is not the only option: there's also pulling tonus downwards, i.e. relaxing. 2) you stay at a symptomatic level, i.e. observing the imbalance rather than the causes of the imbalance. Let's admit that your neck muscles are imbalanced indeed; the real question is: why are they? And the answer is: because you misuse your neck, willingly or not, consciously or not. Hence, the real answer to the imbalance is that you should learn how to use your neck, i.e. what it should be doing vs what should be done by other muscles / regions that you currently underuse. More on that in the intro of this video: ruclips.net/video/9a5wkLnd54I/видео.html
@Olivier Girard - the Posture Guy I've known for a while that I've developed a compensatory posture pattern, and this is most likely the issue. However, I bring up this postural dysfunction up to doctors and PTs, and they either scratch their head and don't know how to proceed or will only focus on a singular part I'd the issue after I highlight the bigger picture / underlying issue. Incredibly frustrating.
Thank you Dr. Can you please just do a video of an exercise routine we can do at the gym a few times a week of what we can strengthen to reverse office sitting jobs and thoracic outlet syndrome? This isn't really action oriented enough...
Hello sir, is there any gym exercises that could help me with my forward head posture and rounded shoulders, and if so could you make a video on it . I was watching some yo
I have the best playlist ever for you, mate: ruclips.net/p/PLrkU7wsPQIPrRu1IG3ifJyZVYHi4asPNQ. Esp. this exercise: ruclips.net/video/UitiV6V5dNo/видео.html. Btw sorry for not responding earlier to your mail... doing it now :) !
What about cervical instability and weak upper body and neck muscles. Wouldn’t strengthening these help? Strong muscles mean better stabilisation of joints/ spine etc.
I normally agree with most of what you say, but this time I'm not so sure. The human head is the most important body part, and having a strong neck helps to lessen the concessionary force If we were to get in an accident. The head is also one of the most heavy body parts and therefore having a strong neck and traps is beneficial, I think.
Hello sir. Do you have any stretches or protocols to relieve back of neck spasms. Particularly when lying in bed on back. Thanks for all the great information.
Hey Steven! Has the cause of these spasms been diagnosed? My initial idea would be to try (many times a day, but only within your comfortable range of motion) the upper body reset: ruclips.net/video/LdDnb3Miwss/видео.html And then, try this routine: ruclips.net/video/Xi5MDNYekcM/видео.html. It's a rather generic one but I think it could help you :)
Thank you. Well nothing physically wrong except stress. Been checked out diagnostically and besides some mild degeneration on c5 all good. I will try these exercises. Thanks again!!
@@ArthurDeschain You're welcome! Have you checked out my video on tension headaches: ruclips.net/video/4vuGPpXZJu4/видео.html ? Maybe there's food for thoughts in there ;)
love your videos...please can you check your microphone/sound system? your latest videos are not as clear voice wise as your previous ones....sounds like you're speaking in a tunnel
Interesting....the advice you're giving here is the complete opposite to what my chiropractors tell me...i'm not saying that you are wrong; i'm just pointing out that i'm now getting conflicting opinions...i follow your videos avidly and have put much of what you have said into practice....i have a disc herniation at L5/S1 and a bulge at L4/L5....but I also have cervical spondylosis (hereditary) so i do get a lot of neck pain....when I walk I get 'locked up' in the neck and trapezius areas; this causes dizziness; a sense of being off balance and great pressure on top of the head pushing down...i've had xrays and mri scans which reveal nothing 'scary'; my doctors and chiropractors/osteopaths tell me it's the spondylosis....their solutions? do exercises to strengthen my neck! yet olivier says NO!....you can now see why I'm confused and worried...what shall i do please?
I know that this video will generate many comments (i.e. mess in people's head) and my moral duty is to answer these concerns, Colin. So here I am, trying my best. Just so that everyone who reads this has clear ideas... here is a short explanation on spondylosis. www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cervical-spondylosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20370787. You perceive that the issue is related to too much compression in your neck: you can hardly imagine that the discs would shrink from being under too little pressure ;) Hence, you should think: why is there too much pressure in my neck? The weight of your head is a first source of compression (but it hasn't probably increased much in the last years ;) ), and muscle strain is another one. So we're talking about a (probably age-related) condition worsened by neck muscles that are too tense and compress the neck vertebrae. So you see: we want to relax your neck, so that the muscles get less tense and don't "lock up". This is where a proper assessment of what your neck muscles have to bear becomes relevant, i.e. what you do with them throughout all your daily activities. And you see, your chiropractor is neither trained nor able to coach you in this respect. For hands-on therapists, prescribing strength exercises that you can execute in front of them is feasible, whilst accompanying you in your life to see what the hell you do with your neck is nearly impossible. That's why they focus on exercises, rather than on coaching you. Hence my advice would be that you commit (it's new year!!) to the protocol you have surely seen on my channel: ruclips.net/video/9a5wkLnd54I/видео.html , and let me know how things evolve. Only if 1-1 coaching is needed, we can talk about the online programs I have: www.trainyourposture.com/onlineprograms.html, but my goal is not to mass-sell them: that's why there's so much stuff on this channel. Does this help?
I have a old whiplash injury and also loss in lordosis. My head is falling forward because of neck weakness, seems like extensors and side of neck. It's taking my whole body forward into a swayback. Have developed TMJ issues from my jaw trying to hold up my neck. Have a sense my body is collapsing axially and that I need to work on the whole extensor chain, including the neck. Uphill task with strengthening when I cannot get into neutral posture. Am fighting against compensations. What would you suggest?
I see... I would suggest working on the extensors of the thoracic spine, the lower traps and the lats. Can you try this routine for 3 weeks, every day, without causing any pain: ruclips.net/video/UitiV6V5dNo/видео.html, and let me know how things go?
I think it's fair to say that people shouldn't assume they need to strengthen the neck. But a blanket statement against strengthening your neck is just as incorrect. And using the caveman lifestyle as justification is ridiculous.
😂... in boxing, you have to violate Mother Nature indeed: this violation is the price to pay for protecting the brains against excessive shocks. The true question is: was there a real point creating the initial issue, i.e. boxing? There are only individual answers to this...
@@Sprint4serbia stiff neck might explain some of his ear biting rage . If only Mike had watched Olivier's youtube 'neck cannot be too relaxed videos' he might still be world champ 🥂
It's so frustrating to find not only dozens of competing modalities but also entirely opposite opinions on what to do about neck muscle issues. That's not to say anything negative about your approach or knowledge. But can't there be instances where strengthening is needed and other instances where it's not? Or is it really that black and white? And if it is, doesn't it seem like the results of the wrong ways would be self evident and naturally fall out of favor? Like if nobody is experiencing any benefit from neck strengthening and it's only harming them how is that not universally recognized by all professionals in the field by now? Simply doesn't make sense to me.
yea this statement is utterly ridiculous. i have thoracic outlet syndrome and the only thing that has given me actual relief is direct strengthening of my cervical neck flexors and scalene muscles.
@@jasond4752 pain radiating down the inside of my shoulder blades, shoulder. arms, fingers, back of neck would go numb, chest would go numb, chest would be in pain.
In a sea of information driven by isolated, myopic logic, Olivier's wide angle approach is a life saver. Thank you so much for guiding the direction of my recovery, saves me so much pain. 🙏
Thank you for a beautiful feedback!!!
That’s a really interesting approach I’ll buy your book and give it a try
Thank you for such great content and information. And helping to separate health fact from health fiction.
great, great advice
I agree with you, it's just the one exercise when you're pushing the head back and resisting with crossed hands worked for me, for realigning the neck 👍
The chin tuck exercise, right? Sure, sometimes there's a result... it's a question of risks vs benefits ratio: ruclips.net/video/-3BVaQ-WZhE/видео.html :)
@@OlivierGirard no, it's neck extensors exercise... from chin tucks my scalenes get stiff
@@2fastnfurious4u which exercise is this? Can you send me a link of the video please?
@@carolinamunoz7137 m.ruclips.net/video/0kWF968uFXY/видео.html
Excellente vidéo! Merci Olivier!
I've heard that you can strengthen the deep neck flexors, but not other neck muscles. Is this true? I haven't seen you mention this before so I wondered if it's something that's not safe. Should I avoid deep neck flexor exercises too?
I wouldn't strengthen anything... for 3 reasons:
- you don't need to, unless you do dangerous things such as boxing... in which case the real question is: if health is your main goal, should you box?
- it's not easy (probably it's even impossible) to isolate the deep muscles from the others
- even if you would manage to isolate the deep muscles, strengthening them will increase the compression forces between the cervical vertebrae, which isn't a great idea.
Makes sense?
@@OlivierGirard Ok thanks, that makes sense. I will avoid those strengthening exercises then!
@Olivier Girard - the Posture Guy mine are imbalanced. SCM, Splenius muscles, Scalenes. If you say not to strengthen them, then pray tell how to resolve the imbalances. There's too much conflicting info out here
@@Jeffro_boy you're under this impression because you of 2 methodological errors:
1) like most patients and their therapists, you forget that strengthening (i.e. pushing muscle tonus upwards) is not the only option: there's also pulling tonus downwards, i.e. relaxing.
2) you stay at a symptomatic level, i.e. observing the imbalance rather than the causes of the imbalance. Let's admit that your neck muscles are imbalanced indeed; the real question is: why are they? And the answer is: because you misuse your neck, willingly or not, consciously or not. Hence, the real answer to the imbalance is that you should learn how to use your neck, i.e. what it should be doing vs what should be done by other muscles / regions that you currently underuse. More on that in the intro of this video: ruclips.net/video/9a5wkLnd54I/видео.html
@Olivier Girard - the Posture Guy I've known for a while that I've developed a compensatory posture pattern, and this is most likely the issue. However, I bring up this postural dysfunction up to doctors and PTs, and they either scratch their head and don't know how to proceed or will only focus on a singular part I'd the issue after I highlight the bigger picture / underlying issue. Incredibly frustrating.
Thank you Dr. Can you please just do a video of an exercise routine we can do at the gym a few times a week of what we can strengthen to reverse office sitting jobs and thoracic outlet syndrome? This isn't really action oriented enough...
I have an older playlist with 7 exercise routines that you may find useful: ruclips.net/p/PLrkU7wsPQIPrRu1IG3ifJyZVYHi4asPNQ&feature=shared
Very few talk about strengthening muscles. Everyone only teach stretches. You are the one who always emphasise on strengthening muscles Thank you Sir.
What if I injured my neck from popping it ? Would I need to strengthen it ?
Hello sir, is there any gym exercises that could help me with my forward head posture and rounded shoulders, and if so could you make a video on it . I was watching some yo
I have the best playlist ever for you, mate: ruclips.net/p/PLrkU7wsPQIPrRu1IG3ifJyZVYHi4asPNQ. Esp. this exercise: ruclips.net/video/UitiV6V5dNo/видео.html. Btw sorry for not responding earlier to your mail... doing it now :) !
@@OlivierGirard could i get your thoughts on bent over rear lateral raises and face pulls, would these exercises be good for my rounded shoulders.
How long should we hold that bend? How many times a day? I'm also doing lower trap arm raises with a resistance band.
What about cervical instability and weak upper body and neck muscles. Wouldn’t strengthening these help? Strong muscles mean better stabilisation of joints/ spine etc.
I normally agree with most of what you say, but this time I'm not so sure.
The human head is the most important body part, and having a strong neck helps to lessen the concessionary force If we were to get in an accident.
The head is also one of the most heavy body parts and therefore having a strong neck and traps is beneficial, I think.
Hello sir. Do you have any stretches or protocols to relieve back of neck spasms. Particularly when lying in bed on back. Thanks for all the great information.
Hey Steven! Has the cause of these spasms been diagnosed? My initial idea would be to try (many times a day, but only within your comfortable range of motion) the upper body reset: ruclips.net/video/LdDnb3Miwss/видео.html
And then, try this routine: ruclips.net/video/Xi5MDNYekcM/видео.html. It's a rather generic one but I think it could help you :)
Thank you. Well nothing physically wrong except stress. Been checked out diagnostically and besides some mild degeneration on c5 all good. I will try these exercises. Thanks again!!
@@ArthurDeschain You're welcome! Have you checked out my video on tension headaches: ruclips.net/video/4vuGPpXZJu4/видео.html ? Maybe there's food for thoughts in there ;)
love your videos...please can you check your microphone/sound system? your latest videos are not as clear voice wise as your previous ones....sounds like you're speaking in a tunnel
strange... the only thing I changed is the amplification in the editing software (it was saturating sometimes). But I'll see if I can find more!
What can you do for migraine linked to occipital area ;
Definitely: deal with forward head posture... check out this video: ruclips.net/video/9a5wkLnd54I/видео.html
is this the case after surgery also
I'm replying by mail, Andy ;)
Interesting....the advice you're giving here is the complete opposite to what my chiropractors tell me...i'm not saying that you are wrong; i'm just pointing out that i'm now getting conflicting opinions...i follow your videos avidly and have put much of what you have said into practice....i have a disc herniation at L5/S1 and a bulge at L4/L5....but I also have cervical spondylosis (hereditary) so i do get a lot of neck pain....when I walk I get 'locked up' in the neck and trapezius areas; this causes dizziness; a sense of being off balance and great pressure on top of the head pushing down...i've had xrays and mri scans which reveal nothing 'scary'; my doctors and chiropractors/osteopaths tell me it's the spondylosis....their solutions? do exercises to strengthen my neck! yet olivier says NO!....you can now see why I'm confused and worried...what shall i do please?
I know that this video will generate many comments (i.e. mess in people's head) and my moral duty is to answer these concerns, Colin. So here I am, trying my best.
Just so that everyone who reads this has clear ideas... here is a short explanation on spondylosis. www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cervical-spondylosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20370787. You perceive that the issue is related to too much compression in your neck: you can hardly imagine that the discs would shrink from being under too little pressure ;)
Hence, you should think: why is there too much pressure in my neck? The weight of your head is a first source of compression (but it hasn't probably increased much in the last years ;) ), and muscle strain is another one. So we're talking about a (probably age-related) condition worsened by neck muscles that are too tense and compress the neck vertebrae. So you see: we want to relax your neck, so that the muscles get less tense and don't "lock up".
This is where a proper assessment of what your neck muscles have to bear becomes relevant, i.e. what you do with them throughout all your daily activities. And you see, your chiropractor is neither trained nor able to coach you in this respect. For hands-on therapists, prescribing strength exercises that you can execute in front of them is feasible, whilst accompanying you in your life to see what the hell you do with your neck is nearly impossible. That's why they focus on exercises, rather than on coaching you. Hence my advice would be that you commit (it's new year!!) to the protocol you have surely seen on my channel: ruclips.net/video/9a5wkLnd54I/видео.html , and let me know how things evolve. Only if 1-1 coaching is needed, we can talk about the online programs I have: www.trainyourposture.com/onlineprograms.html, but my goal is not to mass-sell them: that's why there's so much stuff on this channel.
Does this help?
I have a old whiplash injury and also loss in lordosis. My head is falling forward because of neck weakness, seems like extensors and side of neck. It's taking my whole body forward into a swayback. Have developed TMJ issues from my jaw trying to hold up my neck. Have a sense my body is collapsing axially and that I need to work on the whole extensor chain, including the neck. Uphill task with strengthening when I cannot get into neutral posture. Am fighting against compensations. What would you suggest?
I see... I would suggest working on the extensors of the thoracic spine, the lower traps and the lats. Can you try this routine for 3 weeks, every day, without causing any pain: ruclips.net/video/UitiV6V5dNo/видео.html, and let me know how things go?
I think it's fair to say that people shouldn't assume they need to strengthen the neck. But a blanket statement against strengthening your neck is just as incorrect. And using the caveman lifestyle as justification is ridiculous.
Someone please call Mike Tyson and let him know the news ?
😂... in boxing, you have to violate Mother Nature indeed: this violation is the price to pay for protecting the brains against excessive shocks. The true question is: was there a real point creating the initial issue, i.e. boxing? There are only individual answers to this...
Mike Tyson actually has gone on record saying all his neck training fucked him up badly and he's paying the price now.
@@Sprint4serbia stiff neck might explain some of his ear biting rage . If only Mike had watched Olivier's youtube 'neck cannot be too relaxed videos' he might still be world champ 🥂
Do you have it somewhere?
Talks a lot without showing the excercises
Doesn’t make any sense
It's so frustrating to find not only dozens of competing modalities but also entirely opposite opinions on what to do about neck muscle issues. That's not to say anything negative about your approach or knowledge. But can't there be instances where strengthening is needed and other instances where it's not? Or is it really that black and white? And if it is, doesn't it seem like the results of the wrong ways would be self evident and naturally fall out of favor? Like if nobody is experiencing any benefit from neck strengthening and it's only harming them how is that not universally recognized by all professionals in the field by now? Simply doesn't make sense to me.
yea this statement is utterly ridiculous. i have thoracic outlet syndrome and the only thing that has given me actual relief is direct strengthening of my cervical neck flexors and scalene muscles.
@@babadook22I’m wondering if I might have TOS too. What were your main symptoms?
@@jasond4752 pain radiating down the inside of my shoulder blades, shoulder. arms, fingers, back of neck would go numb, chest would go numb, chest would be in pain.
@@babadook22 hi, do you have a specific video/channel you followed for these exercises ?