A barbell row focuses on strengthening the various muscles in your back, depending on the form and technique you use. In addition to putting large amounts of weight on your back, performing a barbell row also puts stress on your shoulder and neck muscles. Shoulder pains after a barbell row could be a result of improper form or simply overextending yourself during a workout.

Technique
If you are experiencing shoulder pains after performing a set of barbell rows, it is possible that you are using improper form or technique during your set. To perform a proper barbell row, bend slightly at the knees, holding a barbell with both hands evenly spaced and your palms facing the ground. Your upper torso should be at a 60-degree angle with the ground during the exercise. With your arms extended, tighten your core muscles, bending at the elbows and lifting until your upper arms are parallel with the ground. Slowly lower your arms back down, repeating until fatigued. While lifting, use your core muscles as well as your pectoral muscles, instead of leading with your neck and shoulder muscles, to avoid pain after lifting.

Weight
If your form is correct and you are still suffering from shoulder pain, it is possible that you are doing too many repetitions or using weights that are too heavy. Muscular failure occurs when you repeat an exercise, in this case barbell rows, until your muscles momentarily fail. This momentary failure results in an inability to perform an additional repetition due to a lack of strength. For example, if you are performing barbell rows without any additional weight, you may be able to do 100 repetitions before muscular failure. If you have 100 pounds on either side of the barbell, the point at which you can no longer perform a repetition may only be two or three repetitions. Training to failure is a technique used by bodybuilders to build their muscles to the highest level. If you are not performing barbell rows to become a bodybuilder, you should never train to failure. Instead, keep your repetitions at a high level with a low weight and focus on toning your muscles as well as building strength. Finding the appropriate weight must be done through trial and error. If you are a beginner, try to find a weight with which you can comfortably perform 10 to 12 repetitions.

Shoulder Injuries
Common shoulder injuries sustained while weight lifting range from rotator cuff impingement to shoulder bursitis. While ligament and muscle tears can occur, they are often accompanied by more severe pain as oppose to a nagging soreness or dull pain. Rotator cuff impingement is a result of instability in the shoulder joint. While barbell rows may help strengthen this region, if the area is already weak, performing barbell rows will further injure the region. Bursitis is a common overuse injury, resulting in inflammation to the bursa sacks in your shoulders. This pain is usually remedied with simple rest and cold compression.

Recovery
If you are feeling pain in your shoulder after performing barbell rows, you should stop exercising and apply ice or a cold compress to your shoulder for 10 to 15 minutes. In most situations, pushing through the pain during your workout will only further aggravate the inflammation or strain that your shoulder has sustained. To maintain a cold and firm compress on your shoulder, wrap the region in an ace bandage, wrapping from the armpit of your uninjured arm to the top of your injured shoulder. Wrap the bandage continuously in this manner until the ice pack is in a stable position.