Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug — start position
Start
Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug — end position
End

Back / Beginner / Isolation (single joint)

Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug

A machine isolation exercise for the upper traps, with the forearms assisting.

At a glance

Primary
Upper traps
Secondary
Forearms & grip
Equipment
Machines
Movement pattern
Shrug, Ankle push-off (plantar flexion)
Level
Beginner
Type
Back, Isolation (single joint)

How to do it

  1. Position yourself on the calf machine so that the shoulder pads are above your shoulders. Your torso should be straight with the arms extended normally by your side. This will be your starting position.
  2. Raise your shoulders up towards your ears as you exhale and hold the contraction for a full second.
  3. Slowly return to the starting position as you inhale.
  4. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

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Muscles worked

Neck (Front)Upper traps — primary (Front)Front delts (Front)Side delts (Front)Chest (Front)Serratus anterior (Front)Biceps (Front)Forearms & grip — secondary (Front)Abs (Front)Obliques (Front)Hip flexors (Front)Quads (Front)Adductors (Front)Shins (tibialis) (Front)Calves (Front)Outer shins (peroneals) (Front)Feet (arch & toes) (Front)Neck (Back)Upper traps — primary (Back)Upper back (rhomboids, mid/lower traps) (Back)Rear delts (Back)Side delts (Back)Rotator cuff (Back)Lats (Back)Lower back (erectors) (Back)Triceps (Back)Forearms & grip — secondary (Back)Hip abductors (glute med) (Back)Glutes (Back)Hamstrings (Back)Adductors (Back)Calves (Back)
FrontBack
  • Primary: Upper traps
  • Secondary: Forearms & grip

Best for

How specific this exercise is to each movement.

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Photos and instructions: free-exercise-db (github.com/yuhonas/free-exercise-db), public domain.