A male client, around 30 years old, came to training with chronic neck pain. He reported morning stiffness, general discomfort, and occasional shooting pain down the back, due to the sensitivity of his neck, I referred him to check with a hospital.
Medical findings revealed:
- Degenerative disc disease at C2/3 and C3/4 – the discs had lost hydration and shrunk.
- Mild bulging of the C3/4 disc – causing grade I spinal canal narrowing, but without nerve or cord compression.
Initially, the pain limited his confidence in movement. Over time, we shifted the training focus to whole-body mechanics, strength, and resistance training. His determination, consistent home practice, and lifestyle changes played a major role in his progress. Eventually, he had noticeable improvements.
From this case, I learned an important lesson:
- Avoidance of movement due to fear often worsens the condition.
- Structured, progressive training can reveal that neck pain may actually stem from weakness or imbalance in other parts of the body.
It is also worth noting that in hypermobile clients, particularly those with conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, muscle release, massage, and excessive stretching are often not beneficial and can even worsen symptoms.
As trainers, beyond lesson planning, our role includes ongoing education, research, and the courage to ask critical questions about when to push, when to refer out, and how to adapt training to the individual.
Mulberry Whale by Joyymer 