Shoulder Shrugs Exercise

Shoulder shrugs particularly target the large trapezius muscles located at the back of the neck, extending over the shoulders all the way to the middle of the back. The traps, as they are commonly called, help in the movement of the head and the neck in every direction as well as moving the arms with the help of the shoulders. 

Strong trapezius muscles help in improving the posture by stabilising the neck and the shoulders, keeping them pulled back instead of the drooping posture one assumes while sitting continuously.

Strong traps also help in various day-to-day activities such as lifting things, reaching for things with the arms, or even while bending and sitting down. Shoulder shrugs help in strengthening all the muscles that carry out these tasks, as well as improve your pulling strength that is necessary while performing other weight training exercises such as deadlifts, or while doing shoulder or overhead presses.

A study conducted in Denmark in 2011 found that those with chronic neck pain emanating from posture problems saw considerable benefits after performing neck strengthening exercises, including shoulder shrugs.

While the most common form of shoulder shrugs one can see people perform at the gym involve the use of dumbbells, they can also be done in the following ways:

• Shoulder shrug machine
• Dumbbell or kettlebell shrugs
• Barbell shrugs
• Behind-the-back-barbell shrugs

Shoulder shrugs do not involve a long range of movement, and hence can be performed with heavier weights as compared to the kind of weights one would lift while performing other isolated exercises such as dumbbell curls or tricep workouts. Remember to warm up before exercise and stretch afterwards to avoid any workout injuries.

Muscles worked

• Trapezius, neck, shoulders, upper back

Equipment required

• A barbell, or
• A pair of dumbbells or kettlebells, or
• A shoulder shrug machine

Intensity

• Intermediate to experienced

Sets & reps

• 3 sets of 10-15 reps each

Dumbbell shrugs technique

• Stand straight with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold a dumbbell in each hand with both palms facing the body.
• Bend your knees only slightly, and while keeping your arms straight, lift your shoulders up towards your ears.
• Reach the top of the movement and pause for a second or two, and lower the shoulders down to their original position. This is one rep.

Tip: The shoulders should not move in a rotational movement - they should only move up and down. The weights should be based on your strength level and should be enough to provide resistance while lifting up your shoulders while keeping your arms straight. If you have a pre-existing pain in the neck, perform this exercise without any weights.

Read more: What to eat and what not to eat before a workout

Shoulder shrugs are extremely effective for building and strengthening the shoulder muscles, as well as the muscles behind the neck that help in stabilizing the head as well as help moving the arms from the shoulders.

It is also an essential exercise for those suffering from chronic neck and shoulder pain, as it helps strengthen those muscles and stabilise them. But like any other exercise, this too must be practised with caution, correct technique and preferably under the guidance of a trained professional.