“Headbanger’s Whiplash” is probably a phenomenon known to many of you who enjoy a metal gig or two.
But do you know how to ease it? Or, dare I say, even help prevent it?

There was a fantastic article in Consequence of Sound a few years back that had specialists weighing in on the best way to preserve the health of those precious headbanging muscles and to what extent headbanging can cause longer term damage. Do have a read of it.

Personally, I think there are primarily three main types of metalhead at a show:

The Nonchalant Attendee:
Stands still as a statue at the back or gallery area of the venue, serious look on face, drink in hand (likely water). They could be a world-weary music industry professional, or just want people to think that they might be one. Minimal movement in general.
Risk Level: Low

Short of having a beer accidentally splashed on them by one of the other two categories of gig-goer, this type of metalhead has a very low risk of injury. No real action necessary.

The Chronic Headbanger:
This devoted firecracker will diligently headbang to every. single. song (even the ones from the shit opening act). Intensity of headbanging will generally depend on the amount of patches hand sewn onto their battle vest related to the headline act.
Risk Level: Medium to High 

Depending on the subgenre (eg: Doom is a much lower risk than Thrash Metal due to the lesser number of headbangs per minute, despite the increase in song length), this relentless and repetitive strain on the sternocleidomastoid muscle in particular will be felt for a long while after the ringing in your ears has subsided. Maintenance and aftercare needed.

The Mosh Pit Master:
What do I even put here?… You know exactly who I’m talking about.
Risk Level: HIGH

We’re not just talking neck injuries here- we’re gonna see ripped hammies, cramped-up quads and overactive hip flexors from all those roundhouse kicks. This is a full-body contact sport, and neck strain is frankly the least of their worries.

We all know that doing any kind of physically demanding activity will usually require you to ideally do some kind of warm up beforehand. But how to limber up at the side of a mosh pit and not look like a complete twat while doing so? 
Firstly- it doesn’t have to be anything complicated. Just a simple few minutes of doing the following: 

• Bring your ear down towards your shoulder, gently tilting your head to one side, then repeat on the other side. 
• Shrug your shoulders a few times.
• Tilt your head down and then back slowly, noticing any tension or restriction in movement.
• Move your nose in circles clockwise and then anti-clockwise. Again, noticing any tension.
• Roll your shoulders slowly outwards a few times, and then inwards.

If the weather’s cold, consider wearing a scarf or snood to keep your neck warm during your commute to the show.
Then before the bands start (and this is the fun part) You and your gig buddies can take turns in doing some medium pressure percussion techniques on each other’s upper back and shoulders to get the blood circulating to those traps and levator scapulae muscles. 

Yes, it’s that alternating “karate chopping” action with the sides of your hands. 

Do it rhythmically going from side to side of the upper shoulders, back and neck, being careful when going over harder places such as the shoulder blades (especially if you’re wearing any heavy, substantially sized rings or bracelets. And please remove any spiked gauntlets…)
Try and stick to the soft, muscly parts and get that circulation going. And who knows? You might even make a new pal or two.

If you manage to start a “metalhead massage train” at any shows, let me know!