Body & Balance Studio
Posture scan

Chin-Up / Chin-Down (Cervical Tilt)

Also known as: cervical extension, chin poke, looking-up posture.

What it is

This is the up/down angle of the head. A lifted chin is cervical extension, which compresses the back of the neck; a dropped chin is excessive flexion. A level, neutral gaze is the goal.

How to spot it

From the side, the gaze and chin angle clearly up or down rather than level. The scan measures the ear-to-nose angle against a neutral baseline.

Muscles involved

Typically tightcervical extensors — typically tight in Chin-Up / Chin-Down (Cervical Tilt)
Anatomical illustration derived from BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science, licensed under CC BY-SA.

Typically tight: suboccipitals, cervical extensors

Typically weak: deep cervical flexors

How to correct it

  • Chin tucks to a neutral, level gaze.
  • Release the suboccipitals; activate the deep neck flexors.
Posterior Neck Stretch (Chin Tuck, Supine)stretch · neckWall-Standing Postural Exerciseactivate · thoracicWall-Sitting Postural Exerciseactivate · thoracicNeck Extensor Stretch (Seated/Supine Flatten Neck)stretch · neckShoulder Adductor / Lat Stretch (Supine Overhead Reach)stretch · shoulderPectoralis Minor Stretch (Supine Assisted)stretch · shoulderCraniocervical Flexion (Deep Neck Flexor Activation)activate · neckIsometric Cervical Retractionactivate · neck
suboccipitalscervical extensorsdeep cervical flexors

Educational wellness content — not a diagnosis. See a clinician for pain or concerns. Run a posture scan to check your own alignment.