Barbell shrugs

COURTESY OF GLOBAL FITNESS

Major muscles used

• Trapezius

Performing barbell shrugs

• Standing upright, hold a barbell across your thighs, hands just outside hips with palms facing your body.
• Your feet should be hip-width apart, with shoulders back and drooped down as far as they will naturally go.
• Your chest should be out and your back should be straight, with a slight forward lean.
• Raise your shoulders as high as possible towards your ears, lifting the barbell with your arms still straight and palms facing your body. Hold at the highest point for a brief second while flexing your trapezius muscle.
• Return to the starting position by lowering your shoulders down in a slow, controlled manner.

Be careful

• Don't bend at the elbows and lift with your arms in an attempt to raise the weight. You must lift the weight with your trapezius muscles by raising your shoulders only.
• Don't let the weights simply drop to the starting position. Lower the weight by slowly resisting the weights downward force.

Alternative exercises to barbell shrugs

• Shrugs (Dumbbells)

 Courtesy of Global-Fitness.com, your Online Personal Trainer

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