Standing partner nudges
Category: Neck control & endurance
Level: 1
Carla van den Berg
- Keep neutral head/neck position throughout the exercise
- Athlete stands with hands on hips or arms crossed over chest
- Using two fingers, partner uses slight force to nudge the athlete at the head, shoulders and upper back while the athlete tries to resist movement
- Nudge from various directions (front, back, sides)
- The amount of force applied by the partner should be enough to slightly push the athlete out of position before returning to centre
- Progressions for the athlete's stance include;
- Two legs, eyes open
- Two legs, eyes closed
- Single-leg balance, eyes open
- Single-leg balance, eyes closed
- Allowing head/neck to move out of neutral line with the rest of the body
- Cue "Long, strong neck"
- Cue "Stand up tall"
- Excessive force from the partner nudges that pushes the athlete too far off balance that they cannot recover, or that causes the athlete to take a step away from centre to catch themselves
- Cue "Slight taps"
- Educate partner about the importance of safety for their teammates
- Activates the neck muscles to stabilize the head
- Reinforces safe, neutral neck position
- There is some research to suggest that neck strength could be associated with reduced concussion risk
- Challenges the vestibular system (information about the body's positioning in space, contributing to balance and coordination)
- Develops ankle stability
- Develops knee stability (single leg variations)