02/08/2026
If you wake up one day with a tight trap and a sore neck and you’re aiming to train, head to the gym then try this
It’s similar to how you use a foam roller for other parts of your body but the weight and the size of the barbell means it really targets that hard to reach place
Set up a rack just lower than shoulder height and position yourself underneath the barbell, feet square
Drive into the barbell, holding it down with the other side and roll the barbell over the sore area, with deep inhales and exhales
After 15-20 rolls of the barbell over your shoulder you can then start to lift your arms in front and then to the side, like a lateral raise - still aiming to focus on the breathing. 5-10 raises per position should do it. Exhale on the way down
You can also move your head in different positions, left to right or side to side to also dig into those nitty gritty places
It’s a temporary fix, but it certainly helps in the moment. I’ve been doing this for 15+ years as a way to help people still train when they come in with a stiff neck and traps. It works for them and I’m sure it’ll work for you
I generally find upper body movements like presses and rows are doable without issue after about 2-3 mins of this
Give it a go and hope it helps next time you wake up with a stiff neck and traps