Why do so many people get tightness in their neck and shoulders?

Tightness across the top of the shoulder extending to the sides of the neck is something that most of us have probably experienced.  It's that area we always seem to hold tension in when we are stressed and also the place you most likely ask your partner or family member to massage for you (if you are lucky!).  Why is this area always so tight? 
More importantly why do they seem to always get tight again no matter how much you get massages or stretch that area out?

​Well that's because the real problem is somewhere else.  Let me explain.
A feeling of tightness in those muscles (called the upper trapezius and levator scapulae) happens mostly because they are hypertonic.  That means that those muscle fibres are over-active or tense from over-working.  The reason they are having to do so much can vary but they often boil down to 2 main reasons.  

The second is posture.  That typical posture where the upper back is rounded and the neck protruded forward is one we see in every office.  This posture means that the muscles in that area are in a lengthened position which in turn means they cannot function efficiently.  As a result they respond.  As anyone or anything would when constantly overworked!

Mobile phones, TV, computers, laptops all make this posture more and more common in our daily lives.

The second reason is weakness in other areas.  In particular the ones that stabilise the shoulder blade and keep the upper back straight.  Why these get weak in the first place usually ties in closely with your posture but other reasons can also contribute like previous injury, abnormal spinal curvatures, repetitive activity or sport and even respiratory problems.

the good news is that these are correctablte and by treating the right area you can get to the underlying cause and get long lasting improvement in that upper shoulder pain rather than having to constantly be bugging someone for a massage!