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How to Train the Lateral Flexors, Extensors and Traps: Workout Routines for the Neck

Posted by Ricardo d Argence in Health and fitness on 12 18th, 2009 | no responses

For the most part, we in general overlook training this area for mainly two reasons. That is that we do not know, or that we lack the equipment to it.

Lateral Flexors. The lateral flexors, which tilt the head left or right, can be worked in the same manner as the flexors. To begin, you will lie on a bench on your side, then rest a towel on the side of your head and hold a weight plate in place with your hand.

Very simply let the head tilt in a downward angle and then try to bring it up backwards to try to touch ear to shoulder on the bench. After this, do a few sets of 10-15 with the resistance as moderate before you go and switch to the other side to work the other opposing lateral flexor group.

Extensors. Extensors are pretty much like the flexor group in general and can be worked out by a headstrap or a machine. In using the head strap the usual way is to attach the end strap to and hook it onto a low pulley or some hang plates on the chain. Make sure to bend at the waist and place your hands above the knees on your quads.

Now of course you will want to focus on tilting you head backwards as though you were looking upwards. You can also lie on a bench with your face down and head hanging over the end. Then place a towel on the back of the area of the head with the weight being placed on it.

While you are holding the weight there, you can let it start dropping slowly, then raise it while you are just bending the neck only. Having moderate resistance for many sets with 10-15 reps will be crucial as the other exercises would be as well.

Traps. The trapezius or trap muscles are apart of the extensor muscles group, so they will of course get some attention while doing exercises mentioned under the extensor heading. Moreover, they can be worked out with additional barbell exercises, as most would be aware of.

For the most part, people will lump together basic barbell and dumbbell shrugs as the key motions for working out the traps. The dead life with the variations of it will undoubtedly work the traps very hard. Those who have a monstrous traps are the ones with the big pulls.

Even though the dead lift is usually in my routine, there are some lesser-performed lifts that will hammer out those traps hard. One of the most common lifts in this category would be the power clean and to some extent, also the squat clean. Since the arms are kept straight for as long as possible during the pull, the traps, hips and upper back will provide the power that is needed to accelerate the bar before the dipping under it to rack the lift.

In the same way as the clean variations, the snatch will provide a lot of stimulation for the traps. The pull is going to have a rough “shrug” while the bar continues to accelerate before it dips beneath it.

I usually do the power snatch, this is where you will not drops as low in you completion of the lift with the bar in a locked position while you are standing in a squat position. I do not see a need to a full squat snatch even though it lets you use more of the weight because of the bottom position you get beneath the bar. The power clean and the power snatch will force you to pull a lot harder due to the fact that you have a lot less time to drop underneath the bar to rack it.

If you are a person who suffers from tightness due to long hours of sitting on your butt in an office doing these stretches will make your life more comfortable in many ways. The power you will grow in your traps will help you pulling movements and give you a decent and finished look to your body.

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