Barbell Shrug
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Log this exerciseMuscles
Technique
Hold a barbell or dumbbells in front of you with a pronated grip. Keeping your arms straight, shrug your shoulders straight up toward your ears as high as possible. Hold briefly at the top. Lower the weight back down slowly without rolling the shoulders.
Steps
- Stand tall with the barbell at thigh level using a shoulder-width pronated grip
- Brace your core and keep your arms straight
- Elevate your shoulders straight up toward your ears
- Pause briefly at the highest comfortable position
- Lower your shoulders slowly without rolling them
Common mistakes
- Bending the elbows to lift the bar
- Rolling the shoulders forward or backward
- Using leg drive or torso momentum
- Dropping the weight instead of controlling the descent
Variations
- Dumbbell shrug
- Trap-bar shrug
- Behind-the-back barbell shrug
- Smith-machine shrug
Related exercises
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Try ForceIndex freeFAQ
What muscles does Barbell Shrug work?
Muscles: Traps, Neck.
What equipment do I need for Barbell Shrug?
Equipment: Barbell.
Where can I do Barbell Shrug?
Location: Gym.
Calculators & tools
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