Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, keeping your back straight and your hands gripping the bar.
Lift your shoulders towards your ears in a shrugging motion, making sure not to bend your elbows or use your arms to lift the weight.
Hold the shrug at the top for a second, feeling the contraction in your upper traps.
Lower your shoulders back down to the starting position in a slow and controlled manner, completing one repetition. Repeat the exercise for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Pro Tip
Correct Movement: The movement for a Smith Back Shrug is vertical - you should be lifting your shoulders straight up towards your ears. Avoid the common mistake of rolling your shoulders backward or forward as this can lead to injuries and doesn't effectively target the intended muscles. Controlled Motion: Another common mistake is using momentum to lift the bar. Instead, ensure you are using a slow, controlled motion to both lift and lower the bar. This will ensure you are fully engaging your muscles and not relying on momentum to do the work. Weight Selection: Don't start with too heavy weights. It's a common mistake to believe that heavier weights will yield faster results. However, using weights that are too heavy can lead to poor form and potential injuries