unfurl.
Prototype · tester version
The 5-Minute Unfurl · free

How stiff is your neck really?

Laptop all day, phone all evening. Your head holds the same position for hours. Rate it, test it, then see what about 5 minutes does.

  1. Test60 sec

    Rate how stiff it feels. Turn your head left and right.

  2. Unfurl±5 min

    Three small moves on your chair. A timer guides you.

  3. Retest20 sec

    Same test. Your own before and after.

You don't need neck pain to try it. Feeling stiff is enough.

Not a good moment?

On the bus, in bed, between calls? You need a chair and 5 quiet minutes. We'll email you the link for later.

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Before you start

Three quick questions

Some neck problems need a professional, not exercises. These questions check that first.

Do you have pain, tingling or numbness that runs into your arm or hand?

Did your neck pain start after a fall, accident or injury?

Do you have new or worsening headaches, or dizziness?

Please check first

See a professional before you do this

What you answered can have causes that need a proper look. A GP or physiotherapist can tell you what's safe for you. That's the careful route, and it's the right one.

Not medical advice. If symptoms are severe or sudden, get medical help straight away.

The self-check · 60 sec

Find your starting point

1. The turn

  1. Sit up tall and look straight ahead.
  2. Turn your head slowly to the left, as far as is comfortable. Note the spot on the wall where your eyes land.
  3. Back to the middle. Now to the right. Note that spot too.

2. How stiff does your neck feel right now?

0 · loose10 · very stiff
Your starting point
7

You're a 7. Let's see what 5 minutes does.

Three moves, guided with a timer. Keep this screen on. Go slow, stay pain-free, never force or crack.

Why necks get stiff
  • Holding still is the problem. Your head stays in one position for hours. Texting bends it the most, about 33–45° forward (Lee 2015). Any posture you hold for too long becomes a bad one.
  • The perfect-posture myth. A large study followed 686 people from age 17 to 22. Slouching did not predict who got neck pain (Richards 2021).
  • Untrained muscles. The muscles that hold your head up get little training at a desk. Research points at that mix: hours without a break, and muscles that aren't trained for it.

So: loosening up and moving helps today. Getting stronger helps for good.

Our take: your neck isn't broken. It's under-trained.

Good to know
  • The research behind these moves was done in people with neck pain. If you're just a bit stiff, your test tells you what it does for you.
  • The turn test is a self-check, not a medical measurement.
  • One session gives a short-term effect. That's why you check again on day 3 and day 7.
Move 1 of 3
±4:00

Chin nod

Ready
Press start when you're seated
–
The science
The retest · 20 sec

Same test. Now.

1. The turn

Turn left, then right, the same way as before. Compare with the spots you noted.

2. How stiff does your neck feel now?

0 · loose10 · very stiff
Your result
7→4

Stiffness 7 → 4

The 30-second desk reset

Hook it to something you already do

5 chin nods and one round of gentle press. You don't have to stand up. Pick one moment:

Try it once
30 seconds, right now
–
The science

Short active breaks of a few minutes during computer work reduced discomfort without hurting productivity. How often you take them seems to matter less than actually doing them.

Evidence: mixed

A positive review (2022) against a Cochrane review (2019) with low certainty about break schedules. Hooking a habit to an existing moment is a standard habit-building method.

Your 7-day check

One session wears off. Do a few days add up?

Find out on day 3 and day 7. Same 60-second test, no routine needed. Keep doing the 30-second reset in between.

When do you check?

Pick a moment you'll actually be at your phone. Same moment both days makes the numbers easier to compare.

Day 3

Google Calendar

Day 7

Google Calendar

The reminder has your own link with your first numbers, so it works in any browser.

Last thing. Put the phone down and

Look up.