Fellow players: I'm 65 and in the last few months I've begun to have pain in my trapezius under the shoulder strap while playing. I prefer to play standing up. It is really a bummer, and it seems to be occurring sooner as time passes. Has anyone ever seen, heard of, or tried some kind of a brace or supporting mechanism upon which the strap can rest, the result of which is to spread the weight of the hanging guitar over a larger area than just the width of the strap? I have tried wider straps and even a small pillow under the strap, both only delay the onset of the pain. I know I could play seated on a stool, but I'm just not as good that way -- my arms are simply too long to play with the guitar resting on my knee seated.
This is really troubling me as it's forcing me to reduce my fun playing time. I have other physical ailments that have forced me to reduce my golfing, so this new development is really depressing to me! I'll have to spend more time with the wife if I can't come up with something that helps!!