It is said the tongue may be the strongest muscle in the body. Seeing as though it is a muscle, we can use it to help stabilize our neck when doing exercise!
In a supine position (lying on your back), the tongue positions itself further back in the mouth.
When slowly rolling up from a lying to a sitting position, the head often “lags” behind and as the body is coming up so the head will slowly whip itself up to “catch up” to the rest of the body. This creates a strain in the neck because the flexors of the neck are not as strong as the flexors of the trunk. This is one major reason why some people strain their neck while doing sit-ups off the floor. They have to stop prior to their abs getting a workout!
To strengthen the neck, place and press the tongue onto the palate behind your front teeth. This anchors the tongue to the roof of the mouth. The tongue has attachments down the neck, therefore the neck can be stabilized easily this way. This holds true for any exercise you can think of in that supine position.
Keep us in mind when you are embarking on a fitness regime to really help identify your needs and wants! Call to book an assessment: 514 556-4994!
