How to do it
Squeeze hard at the top of each shrug for one second.
- 1
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, holding a barbell overhead with a wide grip.
- 2
Shrug your shoulders up towards your ears without bending your elbows.
- 3
Lower your shoulders back down and repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Expert tip
Keep your arms locked out and focus on shrugging your shoulders straight up to isolate the traps without bending the elbows.
Common mistakes
- ✕Letting the bar drift forward overhead
- ✕Hyperextending the cervical spine to look up
- ✕Arching the lower back during the shrug