Smith Machine Behind the Back Shrug

Works the traps.

Primary muscles
Traps
Secondary muscles
Shoulders
Equipment
Machine
Level
Beginner
Mechanic
Isolation
Force
Pull

How to do it

  1. With the bar at thigh level, load an appropriate weight.
  2. Stand with the bar behind you, taking a shoulder-width, pronated grip on the bar and unhook the weight. You should be standing up straight with your head and chest up and your arms extended. This will be your starting position.
  3. Initiate the movement by shrugging your shoulders straight up. Do not flex the arms or wrist during the movement.
  4. After a brief pause return the weight to the starting position.
  5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions before engaging the hooks to rack the weight.

Track it

Log every set in Pensum. It keeps your best sets and estimates your one-rep max as you go. Estimate your 1RM now.

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