Shoulder aching read post #6 in this older thread that I found when searching about this subject on here. I was looking for a stretch to help me as well because I get tension in my scap (not pain though) whenever I had a backpack on or waking up feeling tension or if I workout and my levator scap/upper trapz are working. post #6 has a stretch that made me feel good and I do not feel anymore tension unless I turn my head to the left (somethings blocking me from full ROM turning my head to the left side all the way like I can on my right)
Here is the stretch the member posted...
1. place a towel over your Left shoulder or more over the left trap muscle.
2. Have one of the towel held with your left hand
3. Have the towel wrap around your back coming thru your right armpit and hold it with your right hand
4. Side tilt your head to the left
5. Pull down the on the towel, brace with your right and pull down with your left
6. While you are pulling down the towel down against your left trap side bend your head to the right and you will feel a strecth to the (SCM) Sternocleidomastoid muscle and also you are depressing the first rib
Make sure you side bend your head instead of rotate-bend (important)
You can also have someone do that manually by literally pressing a thumb in that area and side tilt your head. (too uncomfotable)
I did not use a towel though. I just held my other hand behind my back and pulled it that way. It does not fix my neck ROM to turn to the left side without feeling something block me from turning my head all the way, but it did make my shoulders and upper trapz/levator scap felt good (Only when I turn my head to the left, which does not want to turn all the way and that is something I cannot figure out how to fix). Maybe its a pinch nerve or something, I don't know. If I lay down on my stomach on the floor and turn my head to the left (to try and get my ear and face to touch the ground like on the right side), it makes a weird continues noise, but no pain though.