I have focused on improving the mobility of my shoulder, trapezius, and scapula over the last couple of weeks. As part of my focus on improving range of motion, I have enhanced my middle back mobility through a combination of muscle activation exercises during my mobility training.
This improvement in my back mobility has allowed my scapula/shoulder blades to move more freely. The added benefit has been that my trapezius and shoulder mobility have improved, which in turn reduces the pressure on my neck and shoulders.
This additional mobility has made my neck feel more relaxed and mobile. I am seeing a chiropractor tomorrow, and it will be good to see how much neck mobility I have compared to the previous visit a couple of months ago. My neck feels significantly more comfortable, and I no longer experience the same general stiffness I had before. I do have some muscle strands or areas which are still experiencing some tension, but as this improves, I expect the comfort to improve and additional functional mobility to increase.
There are areas on the back of my neck that require ongoing attention, but it's not nearly as immobile and tense as before.
I am doing more muscle control and contraction exercises, which help activate my back muscles. This helps when I do mobility work, and it improves the range of motion in my back. It has a knock-on effect of reducing neck tension, and I am working on incremental improvements in mobility and control.
I know you mentioned issues with your back and I'm wondering how this will help you with that going forward.