Levator scapulae stretch

This small muscle lifts the shoulder blade and gets loud when you cradle a phone or hike one shoulder toward a screen.

neck · easy · desk-friendly

Hold. 28 seconds, each side, 2 rounds.
Also involves. shoulders.

Why this one exists

This small muscle lifts the shoulder blade and gets loud when you cradle a phone or hike one shoulder toward a screen.

Set up

Sit tall. Imagine a diagonal from the left shoulder blade up to the left ear — that is the line you are after.

Steps

  1. Turn the nose about 45 degrees toward the right armpit.
  2. Nod the chin a little as if reading a shirt button.
  3. Optional light hand on the back of the head, weight of the hand only.
  4. Switch the turn to the left.

What you should feel

A deeper, more diagonal neck stretch than a side tilt. It often sits just inside the upper trap.

Skip if it hurts

Stop if you feel nerve-like symptoms down the arm or a stab at the inside corner of the shoulder blade.

Common mistakes

Do not force the nod. A small chin drop is enough.

Nearby in the library

neckSeated neck side tiltneckChin tuckneckSeated neck rotation

All stretches · Today’s routine

Not medical advice. Stretchcrafters is a movement library, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan. Stop if something hurts, and talk to a clinician if you have an injury, unexplained pain, or a condition that changes what is safe for you.