Terrible Neck Pain, Possibly Broken Bench

[ECWUSA1995]

I have a CB729 Bench at home and I love doing flat bench presses. I just recently got this new bench for Christmas and for two years prior was using a Competitor 343. I also got a new 20lb 7ft bar as well that I am using. I love this new equipment but ever since I started using it I cant get through a full workout before my neck starts to kill me and I am forced to quickly put the bar down. When I sit up it feels like I got punched in the back of the head. It hurts right where my neck meets the bottom of the back of my head. My neck then hurts for like the next hour. I took a look at the bench and realized that when it lies "flat" it actually isnt all the way flat. The bench is slightly inclined by about 5-10 degrees. I then tried to further elevate my head with a folded towel and that made it even worse so I am wondering, could the slight incline in this bench's flat position be causing all this pain? And if not what could be? I do it perfect form, no arching, no bending and I keep my head straight looking up at the ceiling. I've tried streches before hand and afterwards but no deal. Does anyone have any advice?

[Shea_G]

Strange, as long as its flat, whether inclined or not it should be ok. Inclined presses never hurt my neck.

[Kodokan]

Do you think you could be pressing your head into the bench?

[dukenukem7777]

I know the pain you are talking about and I remember it happening to me when I was doing some lat pull-downs when I was your age. I think it might have something to do with your age and your body just having weird issues as it grows. I never got my issue checked out, just avoided it and it went away on its own. It sounds a little like a pinched nerve though from the way you describe it.

[NYPat]

I have a CB729 Bench at home and I love doing flat bench presses. I just recently got this new bench for Christmas and for two years prior was using a Competitor 343. I also got a new 20lb 7ft bar as well that I am using. I love this new equipment but ever since I started using it I cant get through a full workout before my neck starts to kill me and I am forced to quickly put the bar down. When I sit up it feels like I got punched in the back of the head. It hurts right where my neck meets the bottom of the back of my head. My neck then hurts for like the next hour. I took a look at the bench and realized that when it lies "flat" it actually isnt all the way flat. The bench is slightly inclined by about 5-10 degrees. I then tried to further elevate my head with a folded towel and that made it even worse so I am wondering, could the slight incline in this bench's flat position be causing all this pain? And if not what could be? I do it perfect form, no arching, no bending and I keep my head straight looking up at the ceiling. I've tried streches before hand and afterwards but no deal. Does anyone have any advice?

Your bench is fine. Almost every time, neck pain going up the back of the skull is an exertion headache caused by not breathing properly. Focus on inhaling when you lower the weight, and exhaling when raising the weight. Holding your breath and not breathing causes the headache. For further info, search the forums on "head pain" or "exertion headache".

[dukenukem7777]

Thanks for that info man, always wondered what that was.