Episode 1 - Keep Rolling Podcast - Why you should strengthen your neck for BJJ

The Keep Rolling Podcast is about helping keep grappling athletes and enthusiasts on the mats.

Jason and Zac are both passionate jiu jitsu practitioners and just so happen to be physiotherapists as well.

They combine their unique skill sets to deep-dive into the research, science and their own experience to help athletes and enthusiasts 'Keep Rolling'.

This week they fumble around introducing themselves and eventually get into some research that shows neck strength may help to decrease the risk of injury and concussion.

Show Notes:

0:00 - Who are we, our jiu jitsu journey

05:36 - How Keep Rolling came about

06:50 - Zac’s injury history

08:39 - How Zac initially dislocated his shoulder at BJJ

11:03 - The importance of prehab, rehab, strength training and injury reductions programs

13:17 - What injuries are we seeing in the clinic?

16:00 - Research study - neck strength and concussion

16:59 - Discussion: main mechanisms of concussion in jiu jitsu

18:45 - Study review - neck strength and head injury

20:30 - Takeaways for BJJ practitioners

21:19 - Zac’s top neck exercises

22:53 - Jason’s neck exercise progressions

References:

  1. Collins CL, Fletcher EN, Fields SK, Kluchurosky L, Rohrkemper MK, Comstock RD, Cantu RC. Neck strength: a protective factor reducing risk for concussion in high school sports. J Prim Prev. 2014 Oct;35(5):309-19.

  2. Elliott, J., Heron, N., Versteegh, T. et al. Injury Reduction Programs for Reducing the Incidence of Sport-Related Head and Neck Injuries Including Concussion: A Systematic Review. Sports Med 51, 2373–2388 (2021)

  3. Toninato J, Casey H, Uppal M, Abdallah T, Bergman T, Eckner J, Samadani U. Traumatic brain injury reduction in athletes by neck strengthening (TRAIN). Contemp Clin Trials Commun. 2018 Jun 21;11:102-106.

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