The right-side splenius cervicis is stretched by flexing, left laterally flexing, and left rotating the neck at the spinal joints, while the right-side shoulder girdle is allowed to elevate.
Notes:
- In effect, the splenius cervicis is stretched by flexing, opposite-side (contralaterally) laterally flexing, and opposite-side (contralaterally) rotating the neck at the spinal joints.
- Allowing the shoulder girdle to elevate slackens the levator scapulae, lessening the likelihood that it will limit the stretch.
- This stretching protocol will also stretch the splenius capitis unless the head is allowed to simultaneously flex at the atlanto-occipital joint, which is not shown in the accompanying figure.

The right-side splenius cervicis is stretched by flexing, left laterally flexing, and left rotating the neck at the spinal joints, while the right-side shoulder girdle is allowed to elevate.