Chin Tuck and Rotation Range Check
Also known as neck rotation test, cervical range self-check.
Checks: The movement and comfort of the neck joints and muscles
What this checks
This checks how far you can turn your head each way and whether a gentle chin tuck eases or provokes your symptoms. Limited or uneven rotation, or pain that spreads down the arm, points towards the neck needing an assessment.
Do not do this test if
your neck pain followed a significant accident, fall or blow to the head, you have pins and needles or weakness spreading into an arm or hand, you feel unsteady on your feet, or you have dizziness, blackouts, difficulty swallowing or slurred speech. See a doctor first if any of those apply.
How to do it
Step 1
Sit tall and face forwards
- Sit upright in a firm chair with your feet flat and your shoulders relaxed.
- Look straight ahead with your chin level.
Step 2
Turn your head slowly to the right
- Keeping your shoulders still, turn your head to look over your right shoulder as far as is comfortable.
- Note how far you get and whether it pulls, catches or hurts, then return to the middle.
Step 3
Turn your head slowly to the left and compare
- Turn to look over your left shoulder in the same way.
- Compare how far each side turns and how each one feels.
Step 4
Add a gentle chin tuck
- Draw your chin straight back to make a gentle double chin, without tipping your head down.
- Hold for a few seconds and notice if it eases the ache, does nothing, or makes it worse.
What your result means
Likely normal
A negative result usually looks like this.
- Your head turns a similar amount to each side.
- Only a mild stretch at the end of the range, with no sharp pain.
- The chin tuck feels neutral or eases the ache slightly.
Possible problem
A positive result usually looks like this.
- One side turns noticeably less than the other, or is blocked by pain.
- Turning your head or the chin tuck sends pain, pins and needles or numbness down an arm.
- The ache is much worse afterwards and slow to settle.
Tips for a clearer result
Small things that make the test easier to read.
- Move slowly and stop at the first sharp pain rather than pushing through.
- Do it in front of a mirror so you can see how far each side turns.
- A gentle end-of-range stretch is normal; a shooting pain is not.
How to read this
A positive result may point towards neck pain that would benefit from a proper assessment, especially if symptoms spread into the arm, but it cannot confirm what is causing it - only a hands-on examination can tell you for sure.
This is a guide, not a diagnosis. It cannot rule a problem in or out - a physiotherapist can. If your symptoms are severe, spreading, or you feel unwell, see a doctor. Please do not start exercises based on these tests without guidance from a physiotherapist who has assessed you; doing so is at your own risk.
Points towards
If your result points to a problem, these condition guides are a good place to start reading.
Reproduced your pain?
A positive result is worth getting looked at. Book a £40 online assessment with an HCPC-registered physiotherapist, wherever you are in the UK.
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