The trapezius, trapezoid, or traps muscle is a muscle in the upper back. It stabilizes the shoulders and enables the neck to move. Certain stretches can help ease pain and keep movement flexible. The ...

The trapezius muscle starts right below the skull, runs down the neck and across the shoulders, and then continues down the spine in a “V” shape. It works to stabilize your shoulders and upper back.

If you’ve got a lump on top of your shoulder muscle, you have a good chance of it being a trapezius knot. This type of lump in the trapezius muscle — called a myofascial trigger point — is among the ...