Dumbbell Overhead Shrug
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Muscles worked
- High load
- Traps · Lower and Traps · Upper
- Medium load
- Core, Delts · Front, and Rotator cuff
- Low load
- Triceps
Primary muscles
Secondary muscles
How to do it
Press light dumbbells overhead and keep your ribs down. With your elbows straight, reach upward by rotating and elevating your shoulder blades. Let them return under control without lowering the dumbbells into a press.
Form cues
- Keep the arms overhead and steady.
- Move the shoulder blades, not the elbows.
Safety
Talk to a professional before this exercise if you have any of the following:
NeckShoulderElbowWristUpper backLower back
This is general exercise reference, not medical advice. Stop and consult a qualified professional if an exercise causes pain, and never work through joint pain.