Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug

How to do the Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug

1. Position yourself on the calf machine so that the shoulder pads are above your shoulders. Your torso should be straight with the arms extended normally by your side. This will be your starting position.
2. Raise your shoulders up towards your ears as you exhale and hold the contraction for a full second.
3. Slowly return to the starting position as you inhale.
4. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

Muscles worked

Role	Muscles
Primary	traps
Equipment	machine
Difficulty	beginner
Type	isolation

No machine? Train the same muscles with these

Ordered by how likely you are to own the 6 options.

Scapular Pull-Up Bodyweight Dumbbell Shrug Dumbbell Upright Row - With Bands Resistance Bands Standing Dumbbell Upright Row Dumbbell Barbell Shrug Barbell Barbell Shrug Behind The Back Barbell

Harder than the Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug

Snatch Shrug intermediate · Barbell Upright Cable Row intermediate · Cable Machine Kettlebell Sumo High Pull intermediate · Kettlebell

Superset the Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug with

Opposing chest work — alternate sets without extra rest.

Butterfly chest Decline Smith Press chest Leverage Chest Press chest Leverage Decline Chest Press chest

Common questions

What muscles does the Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug work?

The Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug primarily works the traps. Barbell Shrug, Barbell Shrug Behind The Back, and Cable Shrugs train the same muscle, across 7 equipment types.

What equipment do you need for the Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug?

A Machine. Without a machine, Scapular Pull-Up, Dumbbell Shrug, and Upright Row - With Bands train the same muscle, and 1 of the catalogue's options for this muscle need no equipment.

Is the Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug suitable for beginners?

Yes, the Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug is rated beginner. Snatch Shrug, Upright Cable Row, and Kettlebell Sumo High Pull are the progressions from here.

Where should the Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug go in a workout?

Late — the Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug is isolation work, so it follows your compounds. Supersetting it with Butterfly and Decline Smith Press cuts session time without extra rest.

Similar exercises

Barbell Shrug Barbell Barbell Shrug Behind The Back Barbell Cable Shrugs Cable Machine Dumbbell Shrug Dumbbell Leverage Shrug Machine Scapular Pull-Up Bodyweight