Exercise details
- Target muscle: Upper Trapezius
- Synergists: Middle Trapezius, Levator Scapulae
- Mechanics: Isolation
- Force: Pull
Starting position
- Stand holding a barbell using a shoulder-width pronated grip (palms facing your body).
Execution
- Exhale as you elevate your shoulders as high as possible.
- Hold for a count of two and squeeze your trapezius.
- Inhale as you lower the barbell back to the starting position.
- Repeat.
Comments and tips
- Keep your back straight and torso still; only your shoulders should move.
- Keep your elbows slightly bent.
- Do not roll your shoulders, as this increases the risk of injury.
- If necessary, use wrist straps for a better grip, or use a mixed grip (one hand pronated or facing you, the other hand supinated or facing forward).
- The barbell shrug targets your upper trapezius, while your middle trapezius acts as a synergist. A strong trapezius will assist you in the development of other major muscle groups, as it is involved in many key exercises.
Variations
The shrug can also be performed with the barbell behind your back (behind-the-back barbell shrug), with the barbell held over your head (overhead barbell shrug), with a trap bar (trap bar shrug), with dumbbells (dumbbell shrug), with a Smith machine (Smith machine shrug), and with a cable machine (cable shrug).
