I have recently added 20 Rep Squats to my leg routine. My question is: Have any of you experienced any pain in the back of your neck? The pain I get is on the ride side rear of my neck near the base of my skull. I t sometimes radiates into my right eye.
Could I be holding the bar to high? Maybe it is resting on a nerve?
On the good side I am up to 265lbs for 20 reps.
Are you trying to go deeper than you have in the past?
Perhaps you’re overarching your back?
Perhaps both?
I went through this recently myself, but it was in response to doing deeper squats than in the past. The problem may be originating in your trap where it connects to the shoulder — and then working up your neck to the base of your skull (sorry if my anatomy terms aren’t precise). That’s exactly what happened to me.
Concentrate on not pushing up with your hands when you come out of the bottom.
My best guess is you’re squashing some nerve plexus in your back maybe. Do you squat “high bar” perhaps? I try to really bring the scapulae together and create something of a “base” for the bar to rest on. Think of the bar resting on each of the posterior deltoid heads when you have the back set and hands on the bar. Good luck.
Yeah, keep the bar across your upper back, instead of high bar squats.
Also, when I did them, I found that chalking the bar and your upper back helped tremendously in keeping the bar in one place, especially for a set that lasts 2-3 minutes.
I was happy to use a plastic Manta Ray. It made squating more comfortable for an old man. Plus, I now use a pair of dumbells for squats, and have zero difficulty. Try that for a week.
First of all, congrats to you for having the intestinal fortitude it takes to do this routine. As for your question, I’d agree that the bar is probably too high and is causing an impingement in your neck/shoulder area. Try lowering the bar and/or try using a bar pad and see if that helps. Some may laugh at this but if it helps you get through a tough set, who cares?
Props for being able to do this routine man. I tried it only once, found it was a great lower body workout, and never tried it again. It probably is your placement. THe reason why it maybe never bothered u before is because u have never had the TUT of 20 rep squats before and that brought out the unproper form.
[quote]Kal-El wrote:
I have recently added 20 Rep Squats to my leg routine. My question is: Have any of you experienced any pain in the back of your neck? The pain I get is on the ride side rear of my neck near the base of my skull. I t sometimes radiates into my right eye.
Could I be holding the bar to high? Maybe it is resting on a nerve?
On the good side I am up to 265lbs for 20 reps.[/quote]
A different thought, as you do your last reps, are you craning your neck/clenching your jaw at all out of exertion?
I did this in the past when chinning and it caused me pain somewhat similar to that which you described…
Just a thought.
I think each post here may have touched a little on the problem. I tried 20rep set today and got upto 15 when I began to feel the pain in the neck. I tried to concentrate on the problem to see where I was going wrong. I was breathing well, keeping my neck relaxed, when I quit thinking it started hurting.
I do hold the bar high! and all other post too. I check it out and let you’all know. Thanks alot!!!