Neck pain has been steadily increasing over the past two decades and is now second to back pain, the most common musculoskeletal disorder.
One of the newest randomized controlled studies on 94 Danish women suffering from trapezius muscle pain due to work-related repetitive injuries, such as typing and assembly line work, had shown that specific strength training exercises can lead to significant prolonged neck pain relief whereas general fitness training resulted in only mild neck pain reduction.
Both exercise groups worked out for 20 minutes three times a week for 10 weeks. Those who did supervised specific strength training (SST) exercises for the neck and shoulder muscles showed a marked decrease in pain over a prolonged training period and with a lasting effect after the training ended (1). What is unclear with this study is the amount of resistance used for the supervised specific strength training (SST) group and which muscles were exercised. Usually strength training in those with pain can cause increase in pain. This is because muscle pain due to tightness and spasm is from intramuscular lack of blood to nerves and blood vessels entrapped within the spasm as well as the traction effect on periosteum of bones and synovial tissue within joints.
On the other hand, if strength training occurred to the powerful lifting muscles of the shoulder such as lattisimus dorsi, deltoid and triceps, this could reduce the load on the trapezius muscle. Trapezius is not a muscle suitable in weight lifting activities and in the weakness of the above mentioned 3 muscles, trapezius is called into play for lifting activities by performing the shoulder shrug. This is the main reason for trapezius myalgia for those with repetitive motion activities.
(1) Lars L. Andersen, Michael Kjær, Karen Søgaard, Lone Hansen, Ann I. Kryger, Gisela Sjøgaard: “Effect of Two Contrasting Types of Physical Exercise on Chronic Neck Muscle Pain,”, Arthritis Care & Research, January 2008; 59:1; pp. 84-91.