- EquipmentBodyweight
- PatternIsolation
- Reps8 to 20 reps
- Joint loadNone flagged
- One side at a time
Sit or stand tall with your shoulders relaxed. Place one hand on the side of your head if you want light resistance.
First cueKeep the shoulders down.
How to do the Neck Side Flexion
Set up. Sit or stand tall with your shoulders relaxed. Place one hand on the side of your head if you want light resistance.
- Tilt your ear toward your shoulder slowly, or press gently into your hand without moving.
- Hold briefly.
- Return to centre.
- Repeat on the other side.
Form cues
- Keep the shoulders down.
- Use light pressure only.
- Move slowly.
Common mistakes
- Shrugging the shoulder up to meet the ear.
- Pushing hard against the hand.
Take care. Keep the pressure light and the movement slow, and stop if you feel dizziness, pain, numbness or tingling.
Muscles worked
Main target: Neck. The neck muscles hold and move the head: bending it forward, back and to the side, and turning it.
The catalog names no other muscle it works on the way.
Alternatives and swaps
The same main muscle with other equipment: a swap never changes the muscle a workout trains.
The catalog has no other movement for the neck with different equipment.
A swap describes the movement, not your body: if a joint hurts, ask a professional before you train it.
Variations and preparation
Do before it: Neck Controlled Rotations (same movement, lighter).
Track it in StatBlockFit
In the StatBlockFit app the Neck Side Flexion is logged set by set: the app suggests your next weight after each session, times your rests, keeps your records and shows the 72-hour recovery of every muscle on its training map. The training guide explains how.
Questions
How do you do the Neck Side Flexion?
Set up: Sit or stand tall with your shoulders relaxed. Place one hand on the side of your head if you want light resistance. Steps: 1. Tilt your ear toward your shoulder slowly, or press gently into your hand without moving. 2. Hold briefly. 3. Return to centre. 4. Repeat on the other side. Form cues: Keep the shoulders down. Use light pressure only. Move slowly. Common mistakes: Shrugging the shoulder up to meet the ear. Pushing hard against the hand. Take care: Keep the pressure light and the movement slow, and stop if you feel dizziness, pain, numbness or tingling.
What muscles does the Neck Side Flexion work?
It trains the neck; the catalog names no other muscle it works on the way.