What is the normal cervical lateral flexion ROM?

• A. 45 degrees
• B. 60 degrees
• C. 30 degrees
• D. 15 degrees

Answer: (A)

Normal cervical lateral flexion ROM is about 45 degrees to each side. This means you can tilt the head toward the shoulder roughly 45 degrees without turning the face. It reflects the neck’s ability to side-bend through the combined action of the facet joints, discs, ligaments, and surrounding muscles. Values around 45 degrees are considered typical; noticeably less suggests restricted motion from stiffness or tight muscles, while more than about 45 degrees is outside the standard normal range and may occur in individuals with greater flexibility or measurement variability.