Dumbbell shrugs, also known as dumbbell shoulder shrugs, are an isolation exercise targeting your upper trapezius muscles. Perform dumbbell shrugs by grabbing a pair of dumbbells and holding them by your sides with a neutral grip. Keep your arms straight as you lift your shoulders toward your ears. Pause for a moment before lowering your shoulders back to the starting position. Repeat this movement for the desired amount of time.

With proper form, dumbbell shrugs can build your upper back and shoulder muscles. Adding dumbbell shrugs to your weight training routine can help you build the following muscle groups:

- __Trapezius__: The primary muscle group activated during dumbbell shrugs are your upper traps. The dumbbell shrug is one of the best exercises for toning your upper back muscles, building big traps, and improving your posture.
- __Rhomboids__: As you shrug your shoulders through the range of motion of a dumbbell shrug, you activate your rhomboid muscles, one of the main muscle groups responsible for shoulder blade mobility and stability. 
- __Forearms__: Dumbbell shrugs activate your forearm muscles to keep the dumbbells in hand. With practice, dumbbell shrugs can increase your grip strength and improve your performance during compound exercises like [deadlifts](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/deadlift-form-guide), bench presses, and [pull-ups](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/pull-up-exercise-guide).
Whether you’re a novice lifter or an experienced bodybuilder, dumbbell shrugs can strengthen your upper body. For dumbbell shrugs, begin by using a weight that you can control for 2–3 sets of 8–12 repetitions. Choose a weight that allows you to maintain good technique throughout all sets and repetitions.

1. Grab a pair of dumbbells and hold them by your sides. Your palms should be facing your legs. Your posture should be tall, with your feet shoulder-width apart and a slight bend in your knees. Your shoulders should be directly over your hips with a neutral head and neck position. Your arms should remain long by your sides, with a slight bend in your elbows. Your chin should remain tucked throughout the movement as if you were holding an egg under your chin.
2. Grip the floor with your feet to create a stable foot position. Evenly distribute your weight along the length of your feet. 
3. Pre-tension your shoulders, hips, and engage your core. Your ribs should be down, and you should slightly tuck your pelvis.
4. While maintaining a neutral head and neck position, keep your arms long and slowly raise your shoulders straight up toward your ears.
5. Pause for a second at the top of the movement.
6. Slowly lower your shoulders back to the starting position.
7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Once you’ve practiced the standard dumbbell shrug, consider trying these variations:

1. __Behind-the-back dumbbell shrugs__: Place the dumbbells behind your back during the exercise to target your upper traps, middle traps, and delts slightly more than a standard dumbbell shrug.
2. __Seated dumbbell shrugs__: If you want to focus on your shoulder and back muscles and not core stabilization, try this easier variation by sitting while performing the dumbbell shrug exercise. 
3. __Single-arm dumbbell shrugs__: For a unilateral variation, practice the single-arm dumbbell shrug by lifting one arm at a time. Including this variation in your bodybuilding routine can give you the chance to focus on your form.
If you have a previous or pre-existing health condition, consult your physician before beginning an exercise program. Proper exercise technique is essential to ensure the safety and effectiveness of an exercise program, but you may need to modify each exercise to attain optimal results based on your individual needs. Always select a weight that allows you to have full control of your body throughout the movement. When performing any exercise, pay close attention to your body, and stop immediately if you note pain or discomfort.

In order to see continual progress and build body strength, incorporate proper warm-ups, rest, and nutrition into your exercise program. Your results will ultimately be based on your ability to adequately recover from your workouts. Rest for 24 to 48 hours before training the same muscle groups to allow sufficient recovery.
Throw on some athleisure, fire up a [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com), and get ready to sweat it out with exclusive instructional videos from Nike Master Trainer and *GQ* fitness specialist Joe Holder. Want to improve your cardiovascular endurance? Give Joe’s HIIT workout a go. Trying to get a little swole? He’s got a strength training workout for that. From fitness tips to nutrition hacks, Joe will have you feeling healthier in no time.
Dumbbell shrugs are a simple and effective weightlifting exercise to include in your strength training program.


Dumbbell shrugs are a simple and effective weightlifting exercise to include in your strength training program.


Dumbbell Shrugs Exercise Guide: How to Do Dumbbell Shrugs

Dumbbell shrugs, also known as dumbbell shoulder shrugs, are an isolation exercise targeting your upper trapezius muscles. Perform dumbbell shrugs by grabbing a pair of dumbbells and holding them by your sides with a neutral grip. Keep your arms straight as you lift your shoulders toward your ears. Pause for a moment before lowering your shoulders back to the starting position. Repeat this movement for the desired amount of time.

What Are Dumbbell Shrugs? 

With proper form, dumbbell shrugs can build your upper back and shoulder muscles. Adding dumbbell shrugs to your weight training routine can help you build the following muscle groups:<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Trapezius: The primary muscle group activated during dumbbell shrugs are your upper traps. The dumbbell shrug is one of the best exercises for toning your upper back muscles, building big traps, and improving your posture. </li><li class="">Rhomboids: As you shrug your shoulders through the range of motion of a dumbbell shrug, you activate your rhomboid muscles, one of the main muscle groups responsible for shoulder blade mobility and stability. </li><li class="">Forearms: Dumbbell shrugs activate your forearm muscles to keep the dumbbells in hand. With practice, dumbbell shrugs can increase your grip strength and improve your performance during compound exercises like <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/deadlift-form-guide' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/deadlift-form-guide","linkCopy":"deadlifts","category":null}'>deadlifts</a>, bench presses, and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/pull-up-exercise-guide' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/pull-up-exercise-guide","linkCopy":"pull-ups","category":null}'>pull-ups</a>. </li></ul>

Muscles Worked in Dumbbell Shrugs

Whether you’re a novice lifter or an experienced bodybuilder, dumbbell shrugs can strengthen your upper body. For dumbbell shrugs, begin by using a weight that you can control for 2–3 sets of 8–12 repetitions. Choose a weight that allows you to maintain good technique throughout all sets and repetitions.<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Grab a pair of dumbbells and hold them by your sides. Your palms should be facing your legs. Your posture should be tall, with your feet shoulder-width apart and a slight bend in your knees. Your shoulders should be directly over your hips with a neutral head and neck position. Your arms should remain long by your sides, with a slight bend in your elbows. Your chin should remain tucked throughout the movement as if you were holding an egg under your chin. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Grip the floor with your feet to create a stable foot position. Evenly distribute your weight along the length of your feet. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Pre-tension your shoulders, hips, and engage your core. Your ribs should be down, and you should slightly tuck your pelvis. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. While maintaining a neutral head and neck position, keep your arms long and slowly raise your shoulders straight up toward your ears. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Pause for a second at the top of the movement. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 6. Slowly lower your shoulders back to the starting position. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions. </li></ol>

How to Do Dumbbell Shrugs With Perfect Form

Once you’ve practiced the standard dumbbell shrug, consider trying these variations:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Behind-the-back dumbbell shrugs: Place the dumbbells behind your back during the exercise to target your upper traps, middle traps, and delts slightly more than a standard dumbbell shrug. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Seated dumbbell shrugs: If you want to focus on your shoulder and back muscles and not core stabilization, try this easier variation by sitting while performing the dumbbell shrug exercise. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Single-arm dumbbell shrugs: For a unilateral variation, practice the single-arm dumbbell shrug by lifting one arm at a time. Including this variation in your bodybuilding routine can give you the chance to focus on your form. </li></ol>

3 Dumbbell Shrug Variations

If you have a previous or pre-existing health condition, consult your physician before beginning an exercise program. Proper exercise technique is essential to ensure the safety and effectiveness of an exercise program, but you may need to modify each exercise to attain optimal results based on your individual needs. Always select a weight that allows you to have full control of your body throughout the movement. When performing any exercise, pay close attention to your body, and stop immediately if you note pain or discomfort.In order to see continual progress and build body strength, incorporate proper warm-ups, rest, and nutrition into your exercise program. Your results will ultimately be based on your ability to adequately recover from your workouts. Rest for 24 to 48 hours before training the same muscle groups to allow sufficient recovery.

How to Work out Safely and Avoid Injury

Throw on some athleisure, fire up a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a>, and get ready to sweat it out with exclusive instructional videos from Nike Master Trainer and GQ fitness specialist Joe Holder. Want to improve your cardiovascular endurance? Give Joe’s HIIT workout a go. Trying to get a little swole? He’s got a strength training workout for that. From fitness tips to nutrition hacks, Joe will have you feeling healthier in no time.

Want to Dive Deeper Into Your Wellness Journey?

Dumbbell shrugs are a simple and effective weightlifting exercise to include in your strength training program.