The upper trapezius muscle spans from your neck down to your shoulder.  Knots or spasms often occur in this muscle, causing pain that radiates into the neck and head. One of the biggest contributors to this type of pain is stress.

If you have ever felt like you had a softball between your shoulder and neck then that's what we're talking about.

If it looks like you are wearing your shoulders as earrings, or like you play for the Dallas Cowboys then you're probably over working your upper trapezius muscles (traps).

Your keyboard or mouse may be too far away or too low if you are continually engaging your traps as you reach for your keyboard and mouse.

Raise your chair or get a keyboard tray so your elbows are in line with your wrist. This position is best obtained when your keyboard is at belly button height and your arm rests are high enough to support your arms.

The Office Effect Upper Body Exercise Series can not only help to pull your shoulders down, but simply by exercising, your brain goes into relaxing Alpha waves. This makes your body release endorphins which make you happy.

Check out our book The Office Effect for even more solutions for work related upper back pain.