Shrugs - Shoulders Exercise
Not too many
people realize that the traps are in effect one
large muscle that attaches at the top of the neck,
spreads to the shoulder attachment along the clavicle
bone and all the way down to the middle of your
back, tying in your shoulders and laterals.
This
diamond-shaped muscle is even larger than the
abdominals.
Also known as the monkshood
muscle, the trapezoid is located on the upper
back and shoulders.
The moniker was so conferred
as you can imagine an actual hood attached
to the body.
The muscle is crucial to carrying
or assisting in all lifts that go from a
lower point to a higher point.
The other function of the traps is to counter the action of the chest.
Whereas
the pectoral muscles move the arms in front of the chest, the traps, in converse,
move them out of that position and allow you to retract or open your arms.The traps are responsible for retracting the scapulae,
in short.
The traps are developed in a very attainable
method, by any shoulder muscle exercise or weight
lifting shoulder exercise.
They are perhaps the most
effective muscle in the body. They respond even
to the shortest amount of exercise in the condition
that you give them the necessary stimulation.
Since many shoulder exercises train the traps
in the process, exercises focusing on the traps
may be deemed overkill.
Nevertheless, the traps
should be given special attention and the best
shoulder
exercise is the shrug and all its variations
of Bodybuilding shoulder exercises.The basic barbell shrug is still the preferred
mass builder for this muscle.
Begin by holding
a barbell in both hands, about shoulder width
apart. Lean in a little bit and try to touch your
shoulders to your ears.
Another variation of this shoulder strengthening
exercise is employing dumbbells.
This is first
executed by standing straight up with your feet
at shoulder width.
Hold the two dumbbells with
your arms hanging at the sides.
Sink the shoulders
down as far as possible, then raise shoulders
up as far as you can go.
Slowly revert to the
starting position. This dumbbell shoulder exercise
is sure to flex and tone those muscles.
You can also choose to rotate your shoulders
by going up in a circular motion from front to
rear and then back down. This shoulder and back
exercise should give you well-built muscles all
the way.
