Shoulder shrugs

mmuscle · 03-08-2005, 09:21 AM

Hello guys.

I have a quick question here on shoulder shrugs. I know a guy who has ended up with quite painful shoulder joints, which he believes (and his doctor seems to agree) is caused by years of performing heavy shoulder shrugs in the gym.

I personally have never had any problems with this exercise. Although I admit that I don't do it as regularly as he did.

What do you guys think about this??

Cheers!

mmuscle

http://www.makemuscle.net

DOMS · 03-08-2005, 09:53 AM

Did he only do shrugs? He did nothing that worked his shoulders but shrugs? If not, then how does he know it was the shrugs? There are way too many factors for this guy to just say it was a particular exercise. I'll give the schmuck the benefit of the doubt and say shrugs did him in. But maybe it wasn't the exercise in particular, perhaps he let his ego choose the weight for him. Maybe he did them with bad form.

Hell, he just may have had genetically weak shoulder joints.

Well, you get the point...or at least I hope you do.

Yanick · 03-08-2005, 10:37 AM

shrugs have almost nothing to do with shoulders except with a lot of weight in your hands your shoulder muscles/tendons/ligaments need to keep your humerus from popping out of its socket (glenoid cavity?)

Tommy · 03-08-2005, 02:02 PM

I wonder if maybe he was rolling his shoulders when he was doing them,I did that one time and I could feel pain right away

LAM · 03-08-2005, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy

I wonder if maybe he was rolling his shoulders when he was doing them

that's what I would put my money on

DOMS · 03-08-2005, 02:10 PM

So, is rolling the shoulders during shrugs a harmful thing? Because that's the way I do them.

**P-funk** · 03-08-2005, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfs3

So, is rolling the shoulders during shrugs a harmful thing? Because that's the way I do them.

not good at all IMO. You can't take a heavy weight and ask your shoulders to rotate (if you are rolling them back then you are externally rotating them which is even worse as those muscles are really really tiny in comparrison to the internal rotators anc will rip much easier). The upper traps don't rotate your shoulder, they elevate your scapula. Shrugs are intended to do just that, elevate your scapula.

Tommy · 03-08-2005, 02:14 PM

You know! I see people doing that alot but it feel's like it just strains that area to much and it actually hurt when I did it,im assuming you have no pain when you do it so maybe it just work's for you

min0 lee · 03-08-2005, 02:15 PM

Rolling the shoulders is such a waste of time, I did them for so long........and got nothing out of it.

The way I do them is I squeeze at the top and hold for 2 seconds the release, squeeze release. It may be hard with alot of weights but the results look good.

Triple Threat · 03-08-2005, 03:24 PM

I've done heavy shrugs for a long time now, and haven't suffered any shoulder injuries from them. I did, however, have bad results from upright rows many years ago.

DGuy · 03-08-2005, 04:10 PM

I've noticed traps grow quickly, for me anyways.

Maynard Keenan · 03-08-2005, 04:27 PM

Strict Form And U Should Just Be Hitting Your Traps.....he Must Have Been Doing Something Else. Ive Never Had An Injury Thank God.

Tommy · 03-08-2005, 06:28 PM

On a side note here,Is there a reason I can shrug 200 # on dbells and when I go to shrug with bbells I can only do about half that? the only thing I can think of is im holding the bbells in front of me as oposed to db's on the side's.my grip fail's me with bb's and not with db's

Rich46yo · 03-08-2005, 06:33 PM

I love shrugs but im starting to get elbow problems from them. I love alternating seated overheads with the dumbells and then shrugs...........Rich

Maynard Keenan · 03-08-2005, 06:35 PM

Wear Some Straps.....im Able To Shrug Much More

Tommy · 03-08-2005, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maynard Keenan

Wear Some Straps.....im Able To Shrug Much More

That's an ego thing with me,but I can see how benifitial they might be I guess I would rather build up my grip strength before using them though

j rizz · 03-08-2005, 09:37 PM

nah i like the straps. witht he straps i can do 120lb(the highest the gym goes) and without em i can only do like 70's or so, id rather compromise my grip for nice traps.

this might be off topic, but what do u work ur traps with, i work them on my back day..is that okay or should i do it on my shoulder day.

PreMier · 03-08-2005, 09:51 PM

Work rhomboids/traps on back day.

Straps are for pussies, ditch em.

Maynard Keenan · 03-08-2005, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PreMier

Work rhomboids/traps on back day.

Straps are for pussies, ditch em.

theres no way i could shrug over 500 lbs to failure without straps......and this much weight puts some thickness on your traps.

**Mudge** · 03-09-2005, 06:13 AM

I have slowed down my own shrug movements, right now I am working up to 465 where in the past I had 600 on the bar at least once. This is much, much easier on my body, and my endurance in the gym as well.

I have no recent pains from shrugging at all. I did tweak my neck and something in my left backside sometime last year probably from heavy shrugs. If you do them at a moderate and controlled pace I think you should be fine, no shoulder rotation AT ALL.

My traps incidently picked up a little size after killing some momentum.

Tommy · 03-09-2005, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j rizz

nah i like the straps. witht he straps i can do 120lb(the highest the gym goes) and without em i can only do like 70's or so, id rather compromise my grip for nice traps.

this might be off topic, but what do u work ur traps with, i work them on my back day..is that okay or should i do it on my shoulder day.

I've alway's done them on back day's,some people prob. hit em twice a week I know if I do upright row's on shoulder day's im hitting them pretty good then to

mmuscle · 03-13-2005, 08:12 AM

O.K it was his form.

I saw him at the gym the other day and he was rolling his shoulders. With I might add a silly weight. You could almost hear his shoulders grinding.

mmuscle

http://www.makemuscle.net

03-08-2005, 09:21 AM	#1
mmuscle Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 101 Photos: 1	Shoulder shrugs Hello guys. I have a quick question here on shoulder shrugs. I know a guy who has ended up with quite painful shoulder joints, which he believes (and his doctor seems to agree) is caused by years of performing heavy shoulder shrugs in the gym. I personally have never had any problems with this exercise. Although I admit that I don't do it as regularly as he did. What do you guys think about this?? Cheers! mmuscle http://www.makemuscle.net

03-08-2005, 09:53 AM	#2
DOMS Metrosexual Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: In a van, down by the river... Posts: 21,439 Photos: 5	Did he only do shrugs? He did nothing that worked his shoulders but shrugs? If not, then how does he know it was the shrugs? There are way too many factors for this guy to just say it was a particular exercise. I'll give the schmuck the benefit of the doubt and say shrugs did him in. But maybe it wasn't the exercise in particular, perhaps he let his ego choose the weight for him. Maybe he did them with bad form. Hell, he just may have had genetically weak shoulder joints. Well, you get the point...or at least I hope you do.
	I never lie because I don't fear anyone. You only lie when you're afraid.â€”John Gotti

03-08-2005, 10:37 AM	#3
Yanick Amor Fati Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 3,798	shrugs have almost nothing to do with shoulders except with a lot of weight in your hands your shoulder muscles/tendons/ligaments need to keep your humerus from popping out of its socket (glenoid cavity?)
Yanick Amor Fati Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 3,798	"...we have to remember that training is a complicated dance of stimuli and response. Our goal is to understand how to manipulate the stimuli in order to evoke the responses we desire." -Nathan J. Polenchek

03-08-2005, 02:02 PM	#4
Tommy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 162	I wonder if maybe he was rolling his shoulders when he was doing them,I did that one time and I could feel pain right away
	Every setback is a learning experience,but first you have to see the lesson

03-08-2005, 02:10 PM	#6
DOMS Metrosexual Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: In a van, down by the river... Posts: 21,439 Photos: 5	So, is rolling the shoulders during shrugs a harmful thing? Because that's the way I do them.
	I never lie because I don't fear anyone. You only lie when you're afraid.â€”John Gotti

03-08-2005, 02:14 PM	#8
Tommy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 162	You know! I see people doing that alot but it feel's like it just strains that area to much and it actually hurt when I did it,im assuming you have no pain when you do it so maybe it just work's for you
	Every setback is a learning experience,but first you have to see the lesson

03-08-2005, 02:15 PM	#9
min0 lee I See© Elite Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: The Bronx, NYC Posts: 31,690 Blog Entries: 3 Photos: 542	Rolling the shoulders is such a waste of time, I did them for so long........and got nothing out of it. The way I do them is I squeeze at the top and hold for 2 seconds the release, squeeze release. It may be hard with alot of weights but the results look good.
	How To Do The Perfect Bench Press Rep Bodybuilding and Lifting Weights, the Difference ironmagazine-frapper KEFE '08

03-08-2005, 03:24 PM	#10
Triple Threat ... Elite Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Lost Posts: 9,412 Photos: 4	I've done heavy shrugs for a long time now, and haven't suffered any shoulder injuries from them. I did, however, have bad results from upright rows many years ago.

03-08-2005, 04:10 PM	#11
DGuy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 55	I've noticed traps grow quickly, for me anyways.
DGuy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 55

03-08-2005, 04:27 PM	#12
Maynard Keenan A higher realm Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: A PRISON IN HELL Posts: 460	Strict Form And U Should Just Be Hitting Your Traps.....he Must Have Been Doing Something Else. Ive Never Had An Injury Thank God.

03-08-2005, 06:28 PM	#13
Tommy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 162	On a side note here,Is there a reason I can shrug 200 # on dbells and when I go to shrug with bbells I can only do about half that? the only thing I can think of is im holding the bbells in front of me as oposed to db's on the side's.my grip fail's me with bb's and not with db's
	Every setback is a learning experience,but first you have to see the lesson

03-08-2005, 06:33 PM	#14
Rich46yo Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 861	I love shrugs but im starting to get elbow problems from them. I love alternating seated overheads with the dumbells and then shrugs...........Rich
Rich46yo Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 861	"Death to Tyrants"!

03-08-2005, 06:35 PM	#15
Maynard Keenan A higher realm Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: A PRISON IN HELL Posts: 460	Wear Some Straps.....im Able To Shrug Much More
	POWERS OF THE HERB OPEN UP THE MIND......SEEK DEEP INSIDE.....TELL ME WHAT YOU FIND

03-08-2005, 09:37 PM	#17
j rizz Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Cleveland Posts: 326	nah i like the straps. witht he straps i can do 120lb(the highest the gym goes) and without em i can only do like 70's or so, id rather compromise my grip for nice traps. this might be off topic, but what do u work ur traps with, i work them on my back day..is that okay or should i do it on my shoulder day.

03-08-2005, 09:51 PM	#18
PreMier happy sumo Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 21,055 Photos: 2	Work rhomboids/traps on back day. Straps are for pussies, ditch em.
	P-side Inc. "the post-workout high is more profound than any drug-induced rush imaginable." -Dante B.

03-09-2005, 06:13 AM	#20
Mudge Pizza the Hut Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 22,997 Photos: 1	I have slowed down my own shrug movements, right now I am working up to 465 where in the past I had 600 on the bar at least once. This is much, much easier on my body, and my endurance in the gym as well. I have no recent pains from shrugging at all. I did tweak my neck and something in my left backside sometime last year probably from heavy shrugs. If you do them at a moderate and controlled pace I think you should be fine, no shoulder rotation AT ALL. My traps incidently picked up a little size after killing some momentum.
	Kinesiology Vote @ Top 25 Deads Comp Bench Motivation Bench form MaxCalc Charles Poliquin When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. Lao-Tzu I don't know any sources so don't ask - thanks

03-13-2005, 08:12 AM	#22
mmuscle Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 101 Photos: 1	Shrugs O.K it was his form. I saw him at the gym the other day and he was rolling his shoulders. With I might add a silly weight. You could almost hear his shoulders grinding. mmuscle http://www.makemuscle.net

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Shoulder Injuries	RipItSick401	General Health & Awareness	4	07-27-2008 10:13 AM
A puny shoulder, high blood pressure and 2 packs a day..	SlimShady	Online Journals	7	10-15-2004 12:15 PM
Shoulder Injury!	tenxyearsxgone	Training	5	05-21-2004 06:36 AM
Shoulder exercises for people with injuries in the past	guy	Training	2	06-05-2003 12:14 PM
shoulder workouts	I Are Baboon	Training	24	08-21-2001 10:36 PM