Training for the lower trapezius involves particular shoulder blade movements that stimulate lower trap activity. This training strengthens your back and may alleviate neck pain. A Des Moines University study led by Shannon Petersen found that...
Lower back muscles may be strengthened using a trap bar directly using lower back exercises or indirectly during leg exercises. A trap bar is shaped somewhat like a hexagon with the plate-loading bars sticking out on opposite sides. The inside...
Sitting at a work desk for long hours has a tendency to cause muscle imbalances and tightness. The trapezius is a large muscle in the upper back often affected by this. Although the trapezius is one large muscle, it has an upper, middle and lower...
For shoulder development, many weightlifters rely solely on presses and dumbbell raises. But according to "Strength Training Anatomy," the upright row is a fundamental exercise for developing a "Hercules physique." Unlike...
The lower trapezius muscle is part of an upper back muscle group called the traps. The lower portion runs from the upper thoracic spine to the base of the scapulae, or shoulder blades. Stretching the lower traps is done with exercises involving...
The trapezius muscle, also called the trap, is a large muscle in your upper back that is divided into an upper, middle and lower section. Your trap muscles are involved in various movements of your neck and scapula, or shoulder blades. Train this...
Bodybuilding -- a sport that requires dedication, hard work and patience -- can be enjoyed by all ages. If you enjoy weight training and bodybuilding, there is no need to stop as you get older. In fact, continuing to train, diet and live the...
Most people know how important pectorals are to the front of their body. They would never slack on chest day, or just not include one in their routine at all. But few people realize how important traps are, and if they do, they tend to focus...
A herniated disc in the neck can be quite a pain. Symptoms include tingling, numbness or weakness in one arm, burning pain in the neck, back or shoulders, neck spasms or problems controlling your bowel or bladder. These problems may increase with...
Benches are commonly used to work the pectorals, which are the chest muscles. The opposing muscles are found in the back and they consist of the latissimus dorsi, rhomboids and trapezius---all of which can be worked with the bench.
The trapezius is often referred to as a shoulder muscle and a back muscle. It begins right below the scalp, and descends down toward the middle of the back and flares out over the collar bones. To focus on the middle and lower segments of the...
The trapezius is a muscle group of the back and neck. There are three sections of the traps. All three sections pull the shoulders back. The top portion also lifts the shoulders, and the bottom portion pushes the shoulder blades down. Exercises...
During an exercise, muscles contract. An isotonic contraction takes place when the muscle shortens and lengthens. An example of this would be a leg extension. When you move your leg from a bent to straight position, the quadriceps muscle gets...
Traditional exercises do not isolate the muscles of the thoracic spine, making them hard to train. The thoracic muscles connected to the spine mostly lie underneath thicker surface muscles, such as the latissimus dorsi and lower trapezius....
The muscles of the upper back include the rhomboids and trapezius muscles. Upper back stretches can work one or both of these muscle groups. Stretching the back is good for your posture so that tight muscles do not pull your body out of alignment....
There’s one rule of thumb when doing shoulder shrugs with or without the use of dumbbells or other forms of resistance: don’t roll your shoulders! Rolling your shoulders is a big “no-no” while performing shoulder shrug...
In "The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding," Arnold Schwarzenegger explained that a broad, thick back is a necessity for bodybuilding, as deficiencies can be seen from every angle. Pull-down movements, which build the latissimus dorsi...
The Forza Pro Stability Ball is a piece of exercise equipment designed to challenge the stabilizing muscles of the body and offer variance to traditional workouts, according to the National Academy of Sports Medicine. This ball offers twice the...
Training the muscles of the back helps create a balanced physique and improves posture. Using cables are a way to train your back because the exercises can be performed quickly, safely and effectively. Cables allow you to perform many variations...
Back exercises are classified either as horizontal or vertical pulling movements. You either pull weights toward you horizontally from the front as in a row, or pull the weight vertically down across your body. Figuring out which exercise is best...
The reverse lat pulldown is a variation to the regular pulldown. Instead of gripping the bar with an overhand grip, you use an underhand grip where your palms face your body. Working this exercise into your training plan will help build strength...
The trapezius muscle starts at the base of your skull and runs down the spine to the upper back. The upper portion of the traps is usually overworked and the lower trapezius are weak. Therefore, a trapezius workout should include at least one...
The muscles of the lower back work to extend your spine and provide stabilization along with the other muscles of your core. Simple exercise to strengthen the lower back involves extending the spine and may be done either from a stable or unstable...
The trapezius muscles of the back and the deltoid muscles each have three different sections. For a complete trap and shoulder workout, you must hit all of these parts. The traps consist of the muscle fibers of the upper traps that run from the...
In order from top down, the back muscles consist of the trapezius, rhomboids, latissimus dorsi and erector spinae. The "lats" are the largest of these muscles. By strengthening your back muscles you will be able to do daily jobs with more...
The trapezius muscles, or traps, are either of two flat triangular-shaped muscles of the shoulder and upper back. The trapezius muscles are involved in moving the shoulders and arms. Strong trapezius muscles are important for everyday functional...
Because of the amount of muscle each lift recruits, the deadlift and squat are two of the best measures of raw strength. In fact, they are two of the three lifts performed in powerlifting competitions. You might think of the deadlift as a squat in...
Upper-body strength is important for sports and daily functional abilities. A strong back in particular is especially important for pulling motions. Picking up a heavy hay bale from the ground is a good example of this. The keys to gaining back...
Punching and avoiding getting punched requires reflex, coordination and strength. So boxing is a great workout in itself, but if you're serious about boxing, you don't fight to train; you train to fight. Dumbbells allow for the performance of a...
