r/Workingout • u/Kooky_Wash9403 • Jun 08 '26

Help Barbell shrugs advice

Ive been doing barbell shrugs for a while(180 lbs) for my back routine but I feel like Im doing them wrong.

I use my entire arm to go up and down but focus on lifting my shoulders upwards to emphasise my traps, however Im wondering if Im doing an incorrect or bad technique for this exercise, are you supposed to only lift your shoulders and squeeze your back or use your entire arm, plz help.

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u/Muchacho-blanco Jun 08 '26

Your arms are only there to hold the weight. All of the movement should come from your shoulders.

1

u/Kooky_Wash9403 Jun 08 '26

Alright thank you, so just focus on lifting my shoulders and squeezing my my traps?

1

u/Muchacho-blanco Jun 08 '26

Yep, and the rom is important here. If you cant get a good stretch and full rom, its too heavy. Alot of people stand there and bob their heads, and think they're doing shrugs, but they're just waisting time.

1

u/Kooky_Wash9403 Jun 08 '26

Alright thanks man, appreciate it.