Skip to content

Shrug (Dumbbell)

Primary muscle
Traps
Secondary muscles
Neck
Equipment
Dumbbell

Overview

A simple lift that trains the upper trapezius by raising your shoulders toward your ears. Holding dumbbells at your sides allows a natural path.

How to do it

  1. Stand tall holding a dumbbell in each hand at your sides, palms facing in.

  2. Keep your arms straight and your core braced.

  3. Raise your shoulders straight up toward your ears as high as you can.

  4. Hold the top position for a moment.

  5. Lower your shoulders slowly until you feel a full stretch.

Tips

  • Keep your head neutral and look straight ahead.
  • Use straps if your grip fails before your traps.

Common mistakes

  • Rolling your shoulders in circles.
  • Bending your elbows to help lift the weight.
  • Using a short, bouncy range of motion.

Similar exercises

All Traps exercises

Log Shrug (Dumbbell) in Bulky

Add it to a routine, log every set, and watch your progress. Free on the web today — the iOS and Android apps are coming soon.