Overview
The shrugs are one of the most effective ways to train your traps muscles. They force the trapezius muscles to do one of their main function to lift shoulders up. The barbell shrugs are the most basic variation of the shrugs which allows to put some serious load on the traps.
Preparation
Put the barbell in squat rack and loaded it with the desired weight. Grasp the bar with overhand grip (palms toward your body and hands slightly wider than shoulder width) and stand upright with your feet about 20-25 cm. apart. Keep your knees slightly flexed, back straight and the bar right in front of your body.
Execution
Slowly let your shoulders to go down just a little bit below their usual height and inhale. Then raise them up as far as you can and hold the peak contraction at the top for 2 seconds as you exhale. Return the weight back to the starting position in a controlled manner and begin the next repetition.
Recommendations
- Keep your back straight and your head in line with your spine don’t turn your head sideways.
- Keep your arms straight and pull with your traps not with your biceps.
- Avoid movements in your knees and your lower back let the trapezius muscles do the work not the entire body.
- Use wrist straps for your heavy sets.