Normal Neck Range of Motion

An injury or medical condition can limit the flexibility in your neck, making it hard to do everyday activities like driving, working, and exercising. To decide how best to treat you, your doctor will examine you, including testing the range of motion (ROM) of your cervical spine.

Your cervical spine, according to the Cleveland Clinic, is made up of the first seven bones, or vertebrae, in your spine, running from the base of your skull to your upper back.

ROM in your neck is measured from the neutral position, which is looking straight ahead. Neck movements include flexion, extension, bending, and rotation. According to research, this is the ROM that’s considered “normal” for each of these movements.

Flexion

Flexion is the motion that allows you to bend your head toward your chest. In normal flexion, the range of motion should be between 60 and 70 degrees.

Extension

Extension refers to how far you can tilt your head back. A normal range of motion will allow you to look at the ceiling. That’s between 60 and 70 degrees from the neutral position.

Rotation

Neck rotation refers to how far you can turn your head to the right and the left. You should be able to turn far enough that your chin is almost in line with your shoulder. The normal range of motion for rotation is between 70 and 80 degrees.

Lateral Bending

Bending your neck so that your ear leans toward your shoulder while you are looking straight ahead is lateral bending. Left bending is bringing your left ear toward your left shoulder, and right bending is moving your right ear toward your right shoulder. With normal range of motion you should be able to move at least halfway between straight ahead and your shoulder, which is from 45 to 60 degrees.

Limitation of Range of Motion

Many things can cause you to lose range of motion in your neck, from arthritis or disk disease to an injury like whiplash. If you have pain or are unable to turn or tilt your head normally, talk to your doctor.