Muscles

Neck Extensors

Exercises that target the neck extensors, grouped by whether they stretch or strengthen it.

Content last reviewed: 2026-07-18

The neck extensors are the muscles along the back of the neck that straighten it and tip the head back, spanning from deep segmental muscles near the spine to larger superficial ones.

In forward head posture the upper neck extensors shorten and tighten as they work to keep the eyes level while the head drifts forward — a key driver of the ache at the base of the skull and the back of the neck.

They respond to gentle release and upper-neck mobility combined with deep-neck-flexor strengthening, so the front and back of the neck share the load. See the neck exercises.

Neck Extensors — anatomical illustration
Anatomical illustration derived from BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science, licensed under CC BY-SA.

Stretch the neck extensors

Strengthen the neck extensors