Best Upper Trap Exercises For Muscle Mass And Strength

Best Upper Trap Exercises For Muscle Mass And Strength

If you’re looking to build up your traps and maximize the development of your upper back, then building up the upper trap of the trapezius is an important step in this process. These upper trap exercises will help you do that.

The upper trapezius muscle is one of the most important muscles in the upper body, responsible for shoulder movement, stability, and posture.

Although every trap exercise hits all three muscle fibers to some degree, certain ones are better than others at stressing the different Muscle fibers.

In this article, we will discuss the following:

• The anatomy of the upper trapezius muscle
• Importance of an upper trapezius workout
• Best exercises to target the upper trap.
• We will also offer tips for an effective workout.

What Is The Trapezius Muscle?

The trapezius also known as trap is a large muscle in your back that starts at the base of your neck and extends across your shoulders and down to the middle of your back.

The trapezius is called such because of its shape. It looks like a trapezoid (a shape with four sides, two that are parallel).

The trapezius helps you move your head, stand up straight, bend or twist your torso, and raise your arms.

The trapezius is divided into three areas, each of which assists with a particular type of movement.

• The upper fibers (Upper trapezius)
• The middle fibers (middle trapezius)
• The lower fibers (lower trapezius).

The upper portion of the trapezius contributes to the overall roundness of a physiques frame. While the middle and lower portions contribute to back thickness.

The primary function of the traps is to move or stabilize the scapulae (shoulder blades). This means they’re engaged most fully during shrugging movements, elevating the arms overhead, and pulling the shoulders back.

Benefits Of Targeting The Upper Trap Muscle

• Improved posture and shoulder stability
• Enhanced athletic performance
• Reduced neck and shoulder pain
• Prevention of injuries such as rotator cuff tears
• Increased upper body strength and power
• Improved overhead and pressing movements
• Balanced upper body development
• Improved overall aesthetics of the upper body.

How To Train Upper Traps

The upper traps are what people associate with the trapezius. They protrude from the shoulder and are visible both from the front and back.

The upper traps can be developed by elevating the shoulders through common exercises such as shrugs and upright rows.

The upper traps are responsible for raising the shoulders, which are seen from the front. The middle and lower traps are seen from the back, and they pull the scapulae together.

10 Best Exercises To Get Bigger Upper Traps

Now, let’s get into the best upper trap exercises for Mass and strength, using various types of fitness equipment.

We have created the upper trap workouts into many sections, such as:

• Upper trap exercises with Dumbbells.
• Upper trap exercises with Barbell & Machine
• Cable Upper trap Exercises.

The best variation of the trap exercise to build massive shoulders and traps are listed below.

Upper Traps Exercises With Dumbbell

There are many advantages of doing dumbbell upper trap workouts, such as:

• Dumbbells require more balance than barbells or machines that can lead to greater muscle fiber recruitment.
• Exercises with dumbbells allow unilateral training, increase core stability, and improve muscular imbalances.
• Upper trapezius dumbbell workout variations allow for a greater range of movement (ROM)

1. Dumbbell Shrug

The dumbbell shrug, also known as dumbbell shoulder shrugs, is an isolation exercise targeting your upper trapezius muscles.

This exercise can be done very heavily to make the traps thicker, which helps you when you do back poses. This is one of the best upper trap isolation exercises for trap muscle.

If you are new to this exercise or are looking for a way to train your upper traps without weight, this is one of the best choices.

How To Do Dumbbell Shrug

1. Stand upright, keeping arms at sides and with a dumbbell in each hand.
2. Raise your shoulders as high as you can, as if trying to touch them to your ears.
3. Hold at the top for a moment, then release and return to the starting position.
4. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Tips

• Try not to move anything but your shoulders.
• Inhale when you lower the weight and exhale when you lift.
• Adding a pause at the top of the movement can help improve the mind-muscle connection.
• Try to limit the momentum and excessive jerking or bouncing of the weight.

2. Dumbbell Upright Row

The dumbbell upright row is a compound exercise that targets your deltoids (shoulders) and traps (upper back) and biceps. Shrugs along with upright rows can be used to build massive upper and middle traps.

Start your dumbbell upright row with 2–3 sets of 10–15 reps with weights you can control.

Choose your sets and repetitions based on how well you can do the movement without losing form. If you want to do the same without weights at home, you can do the bodyweight upright row.

How To Do Incline Dumbbell Shrug

1. Grab a pair of dumbbells and straddle an adjustable-incline bench with your feet flat on the floor, or position them on the bench frame to support your body.
2. Start by holding the dumbbells with a neutral grip at your sides, and then lie chest-down on an incline bench.
3. Slowly shrug your shoulders up toward your ears.
4. At the top of the movement, pause for a moment and squeeze your traps and rhomboids as hard as you can.
5. Slowly lower the weights back to the starting position.

Tips

• Keep your arms straight while you do this move.
• Make sure not to use weights that are too heavy.
• Move the dumbbells in a smooth and even manner, without jerking them at all.

4. Dumbbell Farmers Walk

The farmer’s walk exercise, also called the farmer’s carry, is a strength and conditioning exercise in which you hold a load in each hand while walking for a designated distance.

The Farmer’s Walk is one of the classic exercises that men have been doing since the beginning of time.

It allows you to accomplish a tremendous amount in a single exercise. You can train your upper traps at home with buckets, water bottles, or other household items by doing farmer walks.

How To Do Dumbbell Farmers Walk

1. Select a pair of dumbbells, and reach down, bending at the hips and knees, to grab the dumbbells with each hand.
2. Hold the dumbbells at your side with a firm grip. Stand tall, keeping your shoulders, back, and core tight.
3. Take small steps and walk forward at an even pace with your eyes focused straight ahead of you.
4. Complete the desired number of steps, come to a stop, and place the dumbbells down while keeping a tight core and neutral spine.

Tips

• Focus on squeezing your shoulder blades and tightening your abs.
• Keep a neutral or straight spine throughout the movement to avoid injury.

Upper Traps Exercises With Barbell And Machine

Barbells are a valuable tool in the arsenal of a person who wants to gain strength efficiently.

Other exercise experts also point to several other benefits of using barbells.

• Upper trap barbells is a versatile exercise, can help you strengthen virtually every muscle in the body with a wider range of resistance.
• The barbell is a simple tool, so it is easy to learn the basic lifts.

There are many benefits to using machines, from a safety standpoint to an output standpoint, to time efficiency.

• Machines move on a fixed path. The handle and lever move from point A to point B without deviating, which reduces the incidence of injury.
• A second benefit is the restraint or support that the machine provides.
• Machines also allow us to control range of motion. Specifically, where to start, where to end, and what range to work within.

5. Barbell Shrug

The Barbell Shrug is one of the best exercises to build bigger and stronger trap muscles. It is a great isolation workout for the upper trapezius muscle.

The shrug is one of the simplest and easy trap exercises to perform.

You can do the shrug either using a dumbbell, barbell, or smith machine, but the barbell variation is the classic variation to build massive traps.

How To Do Barbell Shrug

1. Stand with feet placed shoulder-width apart, knee slightly bent, and core stable.
2. Hold the barbell with your hands facing downwards in a pronated grip.
3. Raise your shoulders without bending elbows as far as possible, getting them closer to your ears.
4. Hold the contraction and squeeze for a second.
5. In a controlled and stable manner, lower the weight back down to the starting position.

Tips

• Attempt to lift the weight as high as possible, but avoid too much momentum and too much jerking or bouncing of the weight.
• Go for the full range, but only move your shoulders, and try to keep the rest of your body steady.

6. Barbell Upright Row

The barbell upright Row is an excellent exercise to build huge Trapezius muscles and create that deltopectoral separation.

Upright rows can be done with both narrow grips and wider ones. The narrow grip focuses on the trapezius, and the wider focuses on the entire shoulder girdle.

Moreover, the wider grip allows some cheating movement, thereby allowing you to lift more weight.

How To Do Barbell Upright Row

1. Hold a bar with an overhand grip and let it hang in front of you.
2. Lift the bar and get it as close as possible to the chin, using your arms and elevating your shoulders to squeeze your trapezius muscles.
3. Now, lower the bar under controlled motion until it comes back to its starting position.
4. Repeat for desired reps.

Tips

• Focus on keeping your elbows higher than your wrists.
• Keep a controlled motion and avoid jerky movements.
• Keep your back straight.

7. Smith Machine Shrug

The smith machine shrug is perhaps the go-to movement when looking to tone or put on mass on the trapezius muscle.

There are several variations of the barbell shrug, smith machine shrug in one of them.

It is an upper-body exercise targeting the upper traps muscles.

It is usually performed for moderate to high reps, such as 8-12 reps per set or more, as part of shoulder or trap-focused training.

How To Do Cable Upright Row

1. Attach a straight bar to a low cable pulley. Grab the bar using a shoulder-width or wider overhand grip.
2. Stand close to the pulley with your body upright, your shoulders pulled back.
3. Exhale as you pull the bar up the front of your body until it reaches the level of your lower or middle chest.
4. Do not pull the bar up any higher. Hold for a count of two. Inhale as you lower the bar to the starting position.

Tips

• Bend slightly at the knees and stand with feet shoulder-width apart.
• Keep your shoulders back, chest out, and body upright.

Tips For An Effective Upper Trapezius Workout

1. Use Proper Form

Focus on using proper form and technique during upper trap exercises to avoid injury and ensure maximum effectiveness.

Keep your shoulders relaxed, engage your core.

2. Gradually Increase Weight And Reps

Gradually increasing the intensity will help to prevent injury and ensure that you are effectively targeting your muscles.

3. Allow Recovery

Remember to give your body enough rest. Do not overtrain because that will lead to fatigue and breakdown.

It gives your muscles time to recover and grow.

4. Mix Up Other Trap Exercises

Doing a variety of trap exercises into your workout routine to ensure you are targeting the muscle effectively from different angles.

5. Balance Your Upper Body Development

It’s important to balance your upper body development by also targeting other muscle groups, such as the shoulders, back, and chest.

6. Be Consistent

Consistency is key when it comes to seeing results from your upper trap workout.

Aim to work out at least 1–2 times per week and stick to a routine to see progress over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Work Upper Traps?

The upper traps are what people associate with the trapezius. They extend from the shoulder and are visible from both the front and back. There are several exercises that target the upper trap, some of which are mentioned above.

The upper traps can be developed by elevating the shoulders through common exercises such as

• Shrugs
• Upright rows
• Face pulls
• YWT

Why Won’t My Upper Traps Grow?

Trap Muscle is stubborn and needs adequate training to grow. To maximize your trap development, you need to include heavier weights and additional volume.

Ideally, both should be included every week that you train. But remember to keep your form proper.

How Can I Build My Upper Traps At Home?

There are a lot of exercises you can do at home to build your upper traps if you invest in a good set of dumbbells. Try shrugs, dumbbell upright rows and farmer’s carries.

Are There Any Mobility Exercises That Can Help With Upper Trap Tightness?

Yes, some mobility exercises that can help with upper trap tightness include neck rotations, shoulder rolls, and chin tucks.

These exercises can help to loosen up the upper traps and promote better posture.

Can I Do Upper Trap Exercises Without Weights Or Equipment?

Yes, there are some upper trap exercises that can be done without weights or equipment, such as Scapular Wall Slides, shoulder blade squeezes, and isometric shoulder shrugs.

These exercises can be a great way to target the upper traps without needing access to weights or equipment.

Can I Work My Upper Traps Every Day?

No, it’s not recommended to work your upper traps every day. The upper traps require time to rest and recover after exercise.

It’s recommended to give the muscles at least 48 hours of rest before working them again.

Takeaway

Big traps are one of the best ways to signal to the world that you’re no slouch in the gym. Beyond making you look better in a t-shirt, developed traps come into play on nearly every upper-body exercise in one form or another.

There are many ways to work the upper trapezius muscle, like dumbbell shrugs, upright rows, farmer walk and barbell shoulder shrugs.

It helps to improve posture and shoulder stability, enhanced athletic performance, reduced neck and shoulder pain, and prevention of injuries.

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