Anatomy
Sternocleidomastoid
The sternocleidomastoid (SCM) is the muscle you can see on the side of your neck when you turn your head. It is often involved in wry neck, whiplash and some headaches felt around the temple or eye.
- Sternocleidomastoid
Where is it?
It runs from the breastbone and collarbone at the front, diagonally up to the mastoid process, the bony bump behind the ear. There is one on each side. It lies just under the skin and covers important vessels and nerves of the neck.
What does it do?
Working on one side, it turns the head to the opposite side and tilts it toward the same side. Both together bend the neck forward and push the head forward. It also assists breathing during hard effort by lifting the breastbone.
Common problems
Each problem has its own detailed page: symptoms, causes, treatment and when to seek care.
How we can help
When to seek care
Book an appointment if neck pain limits movement for more than a few days, keeps returning or comes with headaches. Neck pain with fever, marked stiffness, numbness, weakness, vision or speech changes, or after major trauma needs urgent medical assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Other areas of the body
Educational content: it does not replace an assessment. Your therapist determines the cause of your symptoms in person.