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I don't like to do shrugs. Pretty much any time I do them I feel some sort of discomfort on or around the top of my thoracic spine mid-rep. I'd describe it as feeling as if there's something rubbing over the vertebrae when I perform the movement. I've tried barbells and dumbbells but neither made a difference. The only decent alternative I've come up with is to lean on my chest on an incline bench and perform dumbbell shrugs that way. I don't get the same pain that way, but it isn't really the same as a standard shrug. Has anybody else had this issue?
Sometimes I get pain in my neck. Do you have the same pain when you deadlift? Or possibly with a heavy farmer carry?
Can you get hold of some farmers walk handles? I tend to use these for shrugs instead of barbell, shifts the weight to the side more and reduces the amount of forward shoulder roll. Might help your situation
Yeh I don't do them, maybe once in a while. My trapezius get's the workouts needed when I carry the heavy lifting and gets developed secondarily; so I basically let them grow naturally as I perform the workouts for deadlifts, lunges, lateral raises, and other leg/shoulder work outs. I feel they are already developed as is, so I have no qualms about not doing them. However, if they are underdeveloped, and your legs and body is progressing faster than your traps are being developed, you should work them out; they are immensely important during your primary lifting to keep the weights steady and in good posture.When you do shrugs you will be having your shoulders back, pinching the upper back muscles so that they covering over your thoracic spine, so your muscles would be moving over them; maybe that's what you're feeling.
Like mentioned its not a priority if you are doing other heavy carrys/supports unless you really just want to bring them up to stand out. That pain doesnt sound good though you may need a good massage therapist to get in there and dig out some trigger points or something.Youre a guitarist so it could be related to that. Ive had trouble with my right side (pick side) levator scapulae (muscle under the traps) for years now. It needs a far amount of attention to keep the pain under wraps.
Like mentioned its not a priority if you are doing other heavy carrys/supports unless you really just want to bring them up to stand out. That pain doesnt sound good though you may need a good massage therapist to get in there and dig out some trigger points or something.Youre a guitarist so it could be related to that. Ive had trouble with my right side (pick side) levator scapulae (muscle under the traps) for years now. It needs a far amount of attention to keep the pain under wraps.
Yeah I wouldn't be surprised at all if it has something to do with playing guitar. I've brought my back/shoulders up a lot in the past few years but I really want to bring them up more now. Even after all the improvements I've made I think my shoulders could definitely be stronger. Shrugs have always felt like kind of a fruitless exercise to me.
Yeah I wouldn't be surprised at all if it has something to do with playing guitar. I've brought my back/shoulders up a lot in the past few years but I really want to bring them up more now. Even after all the improvements I've made I think my shoulders could definitely be stronger. Shrugs have always felt like kind of a fruitless exercise to me.
Heavy Upright Rows. Seriously.I've found that using some hefty weight and performing explosive reps (almost like a hang clean...just without the end portion) where you really focus on squeezing the traps at the top of the rep really beats the shit out of them. They're also being worked the whole way through the set as you are holding the weight as you reset for the next rep. Also can help kill two birds with one stone, because it'll also work the shoulders for you.
Yeah I wouldn't be surprised at all if it has something to do with playing guitar. I've brought my back/shoulders up a lot in the past few years but I really want to bring them up more now. Even after all the improvements I've made I think my shoulders could definitely be stronger. Shrugs have always felt like kind of a fruitless exercise to me.
Heavy Upright Rows. Seriously.I've found that using some hefty weight and performing explosive reps (almost like a hang clean...just without the end portion) where you really focus on squeezing the traps at the top of the rep really beats the shit out of them. They're also being worked the whole way through the set as you are holding the weight as you reset for the next rep. Also can help kill two birds with one stone, because it'll also work the shoulders for you.
Well I have had a couple of good sets of Upright Rows in the past month or so using PHAT, but that's actually another exercise I generally just don't like. They tend to just feel wrong for me most of the time. I don't get the same twinge that I do with shrugs, but I do find it very difficult to do them without any shoulder discomfort. I often wonder if it's my form but from what I can tell that's not the problem. I do think they can be a much more useful exercise than shrugs though.
I don't like to do shrugs. Pretty much any time I do them I feel some sort of discomfort on or around the top of my thoracic spine mid-rep. I'd describe it as feeling as if there's something rubbing over the vertebrae when I perform the movement. I've tried barbells and dumbbells but neither made a difference. The only decent alternative I've come up with is to lean on my chest on an incline bench and perform dumbbell shrugs that way. I don't get the same pain that way, but it isn't really the same as a standard shrug. Has anybody else had this issue?
Interesting, never had this.I do all varieties of Shrugs, too. Behind-the-Back, 45-degree forward lean (for lower traps), Front Barbell, Side Dumbbell, etc.I also hit traps with wide-grip upright rows, which gives me added benefit of slamming my lateral deltoids + biceps.Cory
Honestly it is not a neccesary movement man, if it hurts dont push it its not worth injuring yourself. I would stick to higher rep upright rows and heavy shoulder presses and your traps should be fine and grow proportionately to the rest of your body.
I was thinking the same thing Mike mentioned, why continue a movement if it hurts and DOES NOT HELP you? Just find a exercise that works the same group in a different manner
I was thinking the same thing Mike mentioned, why continue a movement if it hurts and DOES NOT HELP you? Just find a exercise that works the same group in a different manner
Usually sound advice but with only 1 possible drawback. What if he is competing in a shrug tournament? LOL. Just kidding obviously Tex but if applied to Squats, Deadlifts and Bench Press that can be problematic advice for powerlifters! I mean in all seriousness I probably should give up on the flat bench press alltogether but I continue to do it because one day Id like to compete. If I was just bodybuilding I would skip it in a heart beat. Got such a love/hate relationship with that exercise!
I was thinking the same thing Mike mentioned, why continue a movement if it hurts and DOES NOT HELP you? Just find a exercise that works the same group in a different manner
Usually sound advice but with only 1 possible drawback. What if he is competing in a shrug tournament? LOL. Just kidding obviously Tex but if applied to Squats, Deadlifts and Bench Press that can be problematic advice for powerlifters! I mean in all seriousness I probably should give up on the flat bench press alltogether but I continue to do it because one day Id like to compete. If I was just bodybuilding I would skip it in a heart beat. Got such a love/hate relationship with that exercise!
That's awesome and applies to a lot haha!
I was thinking the same thing Mike mentioned, why continue a movement if it hurts and DOES NOT HELP you? Just find a exercise that works the same group in a different manner
Usually sound advice but with only 1 possible drawback. What if he is competing in a shrug tournament? LOL. Just kidding obviously Tex but if applied to Squats, Deadlifts and Bench Press that can be problematic advice for powerlifters! I mean in all seriousness I probably should give up on the flat bench press alltogether but I continue to do it because one day Id like to compete. If I was just bodybuilding I would skip it in a heart beat. Got such a love/hate relationship with that exercise!
I'm the same way with benching!
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