Training traps.

As we all know,a good set of traps,look very impressive.Some say,no matter how hard you try,without good genetics,
you'll never have really impressive ones,yet others say they can be built with hard work.
Mine are crap to be honest,but now that i'm training regular and hard,i'm trying to get a set.
I've been doing dumbell,and barbell shrugs,and they're making me sore,which is good,but i'm talking 40kg bells.
When i try to go heavier,my grip fails,and it seems to strain my problematic lower back.
At home,i have a leverage multigym,that has a squat station.This has two pads,which rest directly on the shoulders,
and the weight is loaded on bars around the shoulders.I get under it,stand up so the weight is resting directly on
my shoulders,then proceed to do shrugs.
The thing is,because my hands are taken out of the equation,i don't need grip,and can easily do 4 or 5 sets of
15 reps,with 200 kgs,but don't feel as sore as i do at the gym.
Does anyone think you need to engage your hands and arms for trapezius exercises,or should i expect mega traps
in a few months (barring injury)!

Deadlifts build traps and you don't need 15 reps.Checkout Marcus HIT thread it will help you out.

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Originally Posted by songdog

Deadlifts build traps and you don't need 15 reps.Checkout Marcus HIT thread it will help you out.

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I use the standing calf machine to do shrugs. Deads are the best way to build them as song bird said above. I also really like hangcleans for traps as well.

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Originally Posted by songdog

Deadlifts build traps and you don't need 15 reps.Checkout Marcus HIT thread it will help you out.

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My lower disc problems (they're fucked) prevent me from doing deadlifts and standard squats.

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Originally Posted by MuscleScience

I use the standing calf machine to do shrugs. Deads are the best way to build them as song bird said above. I also really like hangcleans for traps as well.

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The standing calf machine way,is near enough exactly the same way as i'm doing it.

Try DB shrugs. You'll get a better ROM than with a BB.

Have you tried rack pulls?

Work on your grip. Until then, use bb with straps. Deads and bent over barbell rows are killer. Traps are like anything else. If you work them to the fullest they'll grow, regardless of genes. Mix it up. Heavy weight, low rep with the compound movements. Higher reps with the isolation movements. I understand the injures, as I have many. But you have to learn how to train in spite of them without hurting yourself.

If you cant hold 40kg dbs your grip is seriously lacking, dont use any straps and work on your forearms.

About traps, use too much weight and you wont be able to activate all muscle fibers, you will only be giving'em a good stretch.

Use proper form holding the weight on top. Ego lifting 200kgs for shrugs will not make'em grow, as you already noticed.

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Originally Posted by Mr.BB

If you cant hold 40kg dbs your grip is seriously lacking, dont use any straps and work on your forearms.

About traps, use too much weight and you wont be able to activate all muscle fibers, you will only be giving'em a good stretch.

Use proper form holding the weight on top. Ego lifting 200kgs for shrugs will not make'em grow, as you already noticed.

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Don't think i have a grip problem,it's just the bells in the gym have thicker bars than i'm used to,i wear padded gloves,and i've
started doing shrugs at the end of my shoulder workout,when there's little left in the tank.
By the way,there's no ego involved in what i've been doing,it just happens that my machine was loaded with that weight,
and i found it easy to use.As for noticing it won't make them grow,i've only done it 3 times!

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Originally Posted by PT1982

Work on your grip. Until then, use bb with straps. Deads and bent over barbell rows are killer. Traps are like anything else. If you work them to the fullest they'll grow, regardless of genes. Mix it up. Heavy weight, low rep with the compound movements. Higher reps with the isolation movements. I understand the injures, as I have many. But you have to learn how to train in spite of them without hurting yourself.

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Like i said,a number of exercises are a complete no go for me,because of the arthritic discs in my lower spine.I am unable to do heavy
compound movements,unless i want to end up in a wheelchair.I work around my problems as best i can,and i'd still like someone to answer my original question,
do you need to engage your hands and arms to build traps.No offence intended and thanks for your input.

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Originally Posted by Mr.BB

If you cant hold 40kg dbs your grip is seriously lacking, dont use any straps and work on your forearms.

About traps, use too much weight and you wont be able to activate all muscle fibers, you will only be giving'em a good stretch.

Use proper form holding the weight on top. Ego lifting 200kgs for shrugs will not make'em grow, as you already noticed.

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Great point BB!!! I think too much weight on shrugs is probably the single biggest mistake and reason why someone's traps don't grow.

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Originally Posted by Nogbad the bad

Don't think i have a grip problem,it's just the bells in the gym have thicker bars than i'm used to,i wear padded gloves,and i've
started doing shrugs at the end of my shoulder workout,when there's little left in the tank.
By the way,there's no ego involved in what i've been doing,it just happens that my machine was loaded with that weight,
and i found it easy to use.As for noticing it won't make them grow,i've only done it 3 times!

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Didnt understood it was a machine, was thinking of barbell shrugs with 200kgs :p

Still my point is to use a weight that allows you to do a full contraction and hold.

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Originally Posted by Mr.BB

Didnt understood it was a machine, was thinking of barbell shrugs with 200kgs :p

Still my point is to use a weight that allows you to do a full contraction and hold.

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Jeez! wish i could lift a 200kg barbell.
Thing is,i can do a full contraction and hold with that weight.Think i'll try slowing it right down,instead of putting
more plates on.

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Originally Posted by Nogbad the bad

My lower disc problems (they're fucked) prevent me from doing deadlifts and standard squats.

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I do my traps twice a week and my gains for traps continue to come . I started doing between 5 and 7 sets for shrugs alone and it is doing wonders for me .

One of the main problems I see with BB trap work is people don't pull they're shoulders back into the right position... they often roll their shoulders forward - imho pinch your shoulder blades together & retract your scapulas(almost like getting ready to bench) it's made mine much thicker and they run up into my occipital part of my skull...

DBs for height BB more for length has worked well for me... I also do 2 heavy sets but work up from 225 <--- that's my starting point can easily do 50-70 Shrugs with this Wright to get the blood flowing and I add a plate aside until it's not a controlled movement...

Deads & rack pulls are awesome as well

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Originally Posted by NACH3

One of the main problems I see with BB trap work is people don't pull they're shoulders back into the right position... they often roll their shoulders forward - imho pinch your shoulder blades together & retract your scapulas(almost like getting ready to bench) it's made mine much thicker and they run up into my occipital part of my skull...

DBs for height BB more for length has worked well for me... I also do 2 heavy sets but work up from 225 <--- that's my starting point can easily do 50-70 Shrugs with this Wright to get the blood flowing and I add a plate aside until it's not a controlled movement...

Deads & rack pulls are awesome as well

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I agree 100% I actually roll mine backwards then up and it seems to clobber the entire trap . Instead of a short jerking motion I use a long exaderated motion and it has been a night and day difference .

Do you train forearms separately?

Listen, and employ what I am saying, to an HIT program. Do a close grip, upright row. Instead of stopping at your chin bring the bar to your teeth BY ROLLING YOUR SHOULDERS BACK AND LIFTING THEM UPWARD, using explosive force. This will build your neck and traps like no other excersize.

I just want to point out there is no name for this but this is what I do. My neck and traps are huge in comparison to the rest of my body. I am literally disproportionate because I can mash traps and neck like no other

I try to stay away from shrugs to not get disproportionate,
but when I do em, I use light weights and in full control,
and yes, lift with the hands.
Might be they can be activated without,
but the traps hold the arms/hands and I wouldn't skip out on that.

St. BB rows and deads are probably what built most of my traps though.

I like to use DBs as a finisher, lightweight, 70lbs and bend the elbows pulling the DB to the back like you are doing a dip but only pull them back as far as you can to raise your trap at the highest possible extent, try to touch your ears.... do 10 reps slow then 10 reps quick. Great trap finisher. Keep your head in a neutral position, not looking up, not looking down or you'll screw up your neck.

Time under tension. If you can't go heavy, hit them at different angles. 45 degree db shrugs on a seat. Shrug with a smith machine bar behind you.squats and deads build traps but with your injuries you got to get creative.

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Originally Posted by shaunjohn242002

Time under tension. If you can't go heavy, hit them at different angles. 45 degree db shrugs on a seat. Shrug with a smith machine bar behind you.squats and deads build traps but with your injuries you got to get creative.

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Set feroce will say "all angles" and look at that bad boys traps and shoulders... they are the best in the business imo

Great information. Time to add traps to my light day. I gave up on them because shrugs were so minimal returns. Had no idea deadlifts hit the Traps.

Thanks again.

Single DB shrug with a 2 sec negative rep.