Leverage Shrug

What it is

This machine-based exercise effectively isolates and builds the trapezius muscles, which run across your upper back and neck. You perform the movement by shrugging your shoulders straight up towards your ears. Your forearms provide secondary support by assisting with grip throughout the exercise.

Technique tips

• Keep your head neutral and chest lifted throughout the movement.
• Maintain straight arms; avoid bending your elbows as you shrug.
• Shrug your shoulders directly up towards your ears, not forward or back.
• Pause briefly at the top to maximize the muscle contraction.
• Control the weight's descent to fully engage your trapezius muscles.

How to track your progress

Log the weight and reps of each set. Straddly turns every set into an estimated one-rep max, so a heavier single and a strong set of eight both count as progress, and it flags a personal record the moment you beat your best.