Head impact risk

These notes combine advice from 4 reviewed passages across 3 workouts.

Overview

Coach’s claim

Head impact risk in this training appears around bar work. During a 360-degree turn on the bar, a fall can bring the head into the bar, and many people have hit their heads this way. [1]

Coach’s claim

The long-term side of the risk is serious. Repeated blows to the head can move a person toward Alzheimer’s disease and are linked to Parkinson’s disease. [2] [3]

Repeated blows and long-term health

Coach’s claim

Repeated blows to the head can move a person toward Alzheimer’s disease. With every blow, something is lost, and the person moves closer to that condition. [2]

Coach’s claim

The same pattern of repeated blows is linked to Parkinson’s disease. Most boxers who take those blows develop the disease, and Muhammad Ali is a well-known example. [3]

Neck strengthening

Coach’s claim

The movements in question cause little brain damage. They strengthen the neck more, and that is the way to think about them. [4]

Coach’s experience

In his own training, these movements strengthen his neck. [4]

Sources

1. 2024-02-09, 1842.5-1848.7s

Workout: workout:2024-02-09

Passage: passage:2024-02-09:000649-000650

2. 2024-09-14, 1938.7-1943.7s

Workout: workout:2024-09-14

Passage: passage:2024-09-14:000508-000509

3. 2024-09-14, 1962.1-1974.5s

Workout: workout:2024-09-14

Passage: passage:2024-09-14:000512-000518

4. 2025-06-10, 2913.8-2922.6s

Workout: workout:2025-06-10

Passage: passage:2025-06-10:000852-000856