Eccentryx / Exercise Atlas / back

Cable shrug

Cable at hips, arms straight, shrug shoulders straight up, hold 1 s at top.

Muscles

Primary
traps
Supporting
rhomboids

Mechanics

Pattern
shoulder isolation
Equipment
cables
Geometry
Variable Range
Energy model
Glycolytic Pathway (10-90s)
Target feel
Upper traps contracting at the peak — no forward roll or neck tension.
Progression
Add a 2 s hold at the top before lowering.
Regression
Dumbbell shrug with lighter load and controlled tempo.

Watch for

  • Rolling shoulders forward at the top
  • Bending elbows to add load
  • Short ROM stopping before full elevation

Substitutions

  • Dumbbell shrug
  • Rack pull (mid-shin)
  • Bent-over barbell row
Open Cable shrug in the app →