Neck training risks serious injury for inexperienced racing drivers

With an explosion of media and behind the scenes footage of particularly Formula 1 drivers fitness regimes in recent times, this has meant drivers and trainers are launching into neck testing and strength training on young and underdeveloped athletes. This article aims to inform athletes, parents, coaches and team managers of the benefits and risks and how to exercise caution when choosing fitness trainers and health professionals to test or develop these programs.

Neck strength is a smart addition to a drivers training program for these reasons:

1. To reduce muscular fatigue of the neck and shoulder girdle to improve driving performance endurance.

2. To reduce neck pain and discomfort or neck related arm pain when driving

3. To maintain track vision particularly when cornering by holding upright head position.

4. To minimise risk of injury to the neck and assist preventing concussion in an impact. (Elliott et al 2021)

For athletes new to strength/weight training—particularly neck strengthening—it is essential to understand that strapping on a harness and testing a neck without appropriate assessment and base training is dangerous. Their are potential risks associated with Maximum Voluntary Contraction (MVC) testing. These tests can generate significant mechanical stress on the cervical spine, as well as vascular and neural structures within the neck, head, and brain—tissues that may not be conditioned to tolerate such forces.

Even elite athletes such as Formula 1 drivers undergo progressive exposure to neck loading and avoid maximal testing mid-season due to the associated risks. These drivers often experience significant symptoms when beginning load the neck in off seasons and require a significant amount of manual therapy/Physiotherapy treatment to help with manage the process. The testing or training you may see in one video clip is not always safe to be replicated.

In terms of the individual athlete considerations need to be made for:

1. Age and body composition

2. Injury History

3. Strength and Conditioning level and training history

4. Personal equipment type and weight such as helmets or neck safety devices and in car harness.

In clinical practice, I have encountered cases of serious injury following maximal strength testing and training, often conducted by fitness professionals without adequate expertise in this area. Documented injuries include carotid and vertebral artery trauma, cervicogenic migraines, and intervertebral disc injuries, all of which may have significant health implications.

It is imperative to emphasise that neck strength testing and training should only be conducted by highly qualified professionals. While commercially available neck training and testing devices are increasingly accessible, improper use can pose substantial risks. Introductions to any weight training and fitness programs should be taken with caution for adolescent athletes and athletes who have had a significant period of deconditioning away from driving or away from fitness training.

Driver sport specific neck strength requirements vary hugely depending on many factors including:

1. Circuit racing; permanent circuit, oval or street circuit

2. Off road categories: type of car, type of event, track conditions

3. Closed vs open cockpit race cars or karts

4. Technical components of the car ie. power steering, power output, speed

5. Length of race and repeated days of competition

Driver neck testing and training requirements are different to other codes particularly ball sports such as AFL, NRL and Soccer. These athletes have had very different physical development journeys with tackling, head butting and upper body strengthening contributing to different physiological traits. Elite racing drivers register significantly lower static neck strength testing numbers than elite rugby union players when compared. (Hamilton & Gatherer 2014, Backman 2005) So testing and training programs need to be tailored differently for drivers and not all health professionals have the experience to do this.

Registered healthcare professionals with specialised training in musculoskeletal and neurological rehabilitation—are equipped with the necessary expertise to ensure safe and effective training protocols. Here at Driver Athlete and our Clinic - High Line Active we conduct a clinical assessment to screen for neck injuries and abnormalities. We guide adolescents through to experienced drivers through safe strength and conditioning training and as such have had no reported adverse outcomes.

If you would like to assess where your strength and conditioning is at and consider an addition of neck training please get in touch. We'll help identify weaknesses in your human performance component of your racing and plan a targeted approach with your team and driver coaches. More information on our Driver Athlete page.

Contact: nicole@highlineactive.com.au

This article does not form medical advice and health professionals should be consulted for individual recommendations.

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). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-021-01501-1

Backman J, Häkkinen K, Ylinen J, Häkkinen A, Kyröläinen H. Neuromuscular performance characteristics of open-wheel and rally drivers. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 19(4): 777–84. 2005.

Hamilton, D. F., & Gatherer, D. Cervical isometric strength and range of motion of elite rugby union players: a cohort study. (1): 32. 2014.