After practice I often get kinks and stuff, maybe like a pinched nerve or something in my neck, are there warm up exercises to help prevent this? Are some people more proned to this? I wasn't caught in a neck crank submission today, but even getting it pushed against, seems to do the trick. Like turning my head causes pain about 4 inches below the ear towards the back of the neck.
Is it stiffness like a sore muscle, or a direct and sharp pain like an injury? The former is standard and wears off in time as the neck strengthens, the latter is something to be careful of as if it becomes chronic you're in for an uncomfortable time training. Id hold off training for a week or so, and yes you can do a lot of neck sretching and warming like bridging and neck pressing and so on.
I was diagnosed with a pinched nerve in my neck after my 2nd year of wrestling. My neck is just chronically feeling stiff. Through BJJ and stretching i am able to move my neck freely, but it just feels stiff 24/7, and if i get stressed or tired, it bothers, i have to do alot of stretching and cracking. It's no big deal anyways, no pain just a stiff feeling. Stretch often & strengthen it.
Besides the stretching and strength training look into massage. Just go once a month or every couple of weeks. It will help you over the long term.
thanks guys for the advice, I'll spend an extended time before I hit the mat next practice and see if it happens again. + will try the massage too
You might consider seeing a chiro. The pinched nerve feeling in your neck could possibly be fixed with an "adjustment." I had that feeling that lingered years ago while lifting and doing MT. It eventually turned out to be a slightly rotated rib in my back. I go in once per week for adjustments now that I'm doing BJJ and it is kept in check.
