The Effects of Neck Training on the Reduction of Injury in Contact Sports
by Bruce Weyand, MS, CSCS, Nicholas Rea, MS, CSCS, Dominic Lattarulo, MS, Matthew Rodriguez, MS, CSCS, RSCC, and Christopher Taber, PhD, CPSS,*D, CSCS,*D, USAW-3
NSCA Coach
December 2025
Vol 12, Issue 3
This article explores how neck training programs can reduce the severity of sport-related concussions and protect athletes during year-round training.
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This article originally appeared in NSCA Coach, a quarterly publication for NSCA Members that provides valuable takeaways for every level of strength and conditioning coach. You can find scientifically based articles specific to a wide variety of your athletes’ needs with Nutrition, Programming, and Youth columns. Read more articles from NSCA Coach »
REFERENCES
- A neck training blueprint for athletes. Elite FTS. May 11, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2024 from https://www.elitefts.com/education/a-neck-training-blueprint-for-athletes/.
- Agarwal, N, Thakkar, R, and Than, K. Sports-related neck injury – Statistics, symptoms and treatments. American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Retrieved 2025 from https://www.aans.org/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Sports-related-Neck-Injury.
- Barker, RW. Is neck strength training effective in reducing head acceleration and concussion? Journal of Australian Strength and Conditioning 31(1): 46-60, 2023.
- Barrett, MD, McLoughlin, TF, Gallagher, KR, Gatherer, D, Parratt, MTR, Perera, JR, and Briggs, TWR. Effectiveness of a tailored neck training program on neck strength, movement, and fatigue in under-19 male rugby players: A randomized controlled pilot study. Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine 6: 137-147, 2015.
- Collins, CL, Fletcher, EN, Fields, SK, Kluchurosky, L, Rohrkemper, MK, Comstock, RD, and Cantu, RC. Neck strength: A protective factor reducing risk for concussion in high school sports. Journal of Primary Prevention 35(5): 309-319, 2014.
- Daly, E, Pearce, AJ, and Ryan, L. A systematic review of strength and conditioning protocols for improving neck strength and reducing concussion incidence and impact injury risk in collision sports; Is there evidence? Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology 6(1): 8, 2021.
- Eckner, JT, Oh, YK, Joshi, MS, Richardson, JK, and Ashton-Miller, JA. Effect of neck muscle strength and anticipatory cervical muscle activation on the kinematic response of the head to impulsive loads. American Journal of Sports Medicine 42(3): 566-576, 2014.
- Gilchrist, I, Storr, M, Chapman, E, and Pelland, L. Neck muscle strength training in the risk management of concussion in contact sports: Critical appraisal of application to practice. Journal of Athletic Enhancement 4: 2-19, 2015.
- Gregory, S. How kids’ sports became a $15 billion industry. Time Magazine 190(9): 42-51, 2017.
- Hrysomallis, C. Neck muscular strength, training, performance and sport injury risk: A review. Sports Medicine 46(8): 1111-1124, 2016.
- Le Flao, E, Pichardo, AW, Ganpatt, S, and Oranchuk, DJ. An accessible 16-week neck strength training program improves head kinematics following chest perturbation in young soccer athletes. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation 30(8): 1158-1165, 2021.
- Lin, CY, Casey, E, Herman, DC, Katz, N, and Tenforde, AS. Sex differences in common sports injuries. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 10(10): 1073-1082, 2018.
- McKeithan, L, Hibshman, N, Yengo-Kahn, AM, Solomon, GS, and Zuckerman, SL. Sport-related concussion: Evaluation, treatment, and future directions. Medicine and Science 7(3): 44, 2019.
- Meeuwisse, W, Tyreman, H, Hagel, B, and Emery, C. A dynamic model of etiology in sport injury: The recursive nature of risk and causation. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine 17(3): 215-219, 2007.
- Peek, K, Versteegh, T, Veith, S, Whalan, M, Edwards, S, McKay, M, and Gardner, AJ. Injury-reduction programs containing neuromuscular neck exercises and the incidence of soccer-related head and neck injuries. Journal of Athletic Training 58(6): 519-527, 2023.
- Salmon, DM, Handcock, PJ, Sullivan, SJ, Rehrer, NJ, and Niven, BE. Can neck strength be measured using a single maximal contraction in a simulated contact position? Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 32(8): 2166-2173, 2018.
- Toninato, J, Casey, H, Uppal, M, Abdallah, T, Bergman, T, Eckner, J, and Samadani, U. Traumatic brain injury reduction in athletes by neck strengthening (TRAIN). Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications 11: 102-106, 2018.
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Keywords:
Concentric Exercises Strength Training Recovery Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Brain Health Concussion Injury Prevention Athlete Safety
Concentric Exercises Strength Training Recovery Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Brain Health Concussion Injury Prevention Athlete Safety
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