A tight trapezius muscle can be caused by stress or by improper posture. This muscle is located on the back of the neck and is responsible for holding up your head and neck as you move.
Tightness in this muscle can also cause pain in the neck, shoulder, and upper back. Stress-induced tight trapezius muscles are common among those who spend a lot of time on computers and phones and those with repetitive jobs such as assembly line workers If you want to stretch out this muscle, try squeezing your shoulder blades together while raising both arms overhead.
Often times during an intense workout, muscles in the back of the neck and shoulders can be so tight that it becomes difficult for people to move their neck or shoulder. This condition is known as the “trapezius muscle syndrome”.
The tight trapezius muscles can cause pain or trigger headaches, neck pain or stiffness, shoulder pain, shoulder girdle pain, dyspnea (shortness of breath) and difficulty with turning the head to either side.
Treatment typically involves a combination of a few different types of therapy including range-of-motion exercises, massage therapy and acupuncture.
Tight trapezius muscles are a common condition in the human body. It is also a commonly seen problem in many athletes. In this condition, there is a tight knot of muscle tissue in the upper back area which compresses the nerves and muscles in this area, causing problems with posture.
Tight trapezius muscles can make you feel gimpy in your neck and shoulders when you carry out tasks such as reaching for a crowded shelf or reaching up to tie your shoe laces. The treatment for these conditions includes relaxing the muscles, stretching them out, and strengthening them. Some treatments may also include massage or other forms of soft tissue manipulation to help relieve muscle tension.
If you experience tight trapezius muscles frequently, try physiotherapy to relieve its symptoms before they cause permanent damage to the muscles and skin surrounding the spine.