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Exercise guide

Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug

How to do the Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

IsolationMachineBeginnerPull
Primary muscles

Traps

Secondary

,

Equipment

Machine

Step by step

How to do the Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug

  1. 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. 2

    Raise your shoulders up towards your ears as you exhale and hold the contraction for a full second.

  3. 3

    Slowly return to the starting position as you inhale.

  4. 4

    Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

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Every Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap, so your traps volume is visible at a glance, and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Related

More traps exercises

FAQ

Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug: common questions

What muscles does the Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug work?

The Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug primarily works the Traps.

Is the Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug suitable for beginners?

Yes. The Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug is a beginner-level exercise, so it's a solid choice if you're new to training. Start light and focus on the movement pattern before adding load.

What equipment do I need for the Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug?

To do the Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug you'll need a weight machine.

Is the Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug a compound or isolation exercise?

The Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug is an isolation exercise, it targets the traps through a single joint, which makes it useful for focused, targeted work.

How do I do the Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug with correct form?

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. Follow the full step-by-step above for the complete movement.

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