Suboccipital muscles

Schematic anatomy
Deep layerSuboccipital muscles

Shoulders

Anterior deltoidMiddle deltoidPosterior deltoid

Rotator cuff

SupraspinatusInfraspinatusTeres minorSubscapularis

Neck

SternocleidomastoidLongus colli & longus capitisScalenesSplenius capitis & cervicisLevator scapulaeSuboccipital muscles
Movement guide

Suboccipital muscles

Small muscles below the skull fine-tune upper-neck extension and rotation.

Use gentle shared loading; these small muscles are not isolated by the movement.

01

Gentle neck-extension isometric

Neck control · Hand resistance

Also works

Other cervical extensors and stabilizers

How to perform

With head neutral, press lightly into a hand behind your head without moving. Relax between efforts.

Avoid tipping the chin up or straining.

Example volume · 1–2 sets × 5 holds of 3 sec

Referenceswww.cuh.nhs.uk

Community draft · awaiting expert review