Are upright rows safe?

[IronManlet]

Only tried upright rows once; didn't like them much. I prefer sticking with overhead work and shrugs.

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by kitarpyar

Deads and cleans. For a long time, when I started lifting, I tried shrugging, but was not using deads and cleans. Couldn't see much trap development. Once I added in the deads and cleans (and actually stopped shrugging, although this was more to do with limited time in gym than any pet peeve against this lift), traps responded beautifully.

This is pretty much my experience.

My traps right now are one of my best body parts. They used to be very small. Years of bodybuilding style shrugging really didn't do much for me.

Heavy and explosive pulls and shrugs made a big difference for me.

[moeheep]

ARe upright rows effective at all as a shoulder builder?

[ricka182]

Yes, they are effective when performed correctly. But it also depends on your body physiology. Not every excersise works for everyone, you have to try them with a light weight and see how they feel for you. There are plenty of ways to work the shoulders, upright rows is just one of them.

[IronWill]

Originally Posted by ricka182

Yes, they are effective when performed correctly. But it also depends on your body physiology. Not every excersise works for everyone, you have to try them with a light weight and see how they feel for you. There are plenty of ways to work the shoulders, upright rows is just one of them.

I believe this is the first time I have ever seen this referenced in a post. Everyone's skeletal geometry is different as well as the manner in which musculature is laid upon it. Not everything works the same for everybody.

[emekajokammor]

Originally Posted by BendtheBar

I don't think they are the most effective trap builders, but I think they can be a good trap builder. To me the most potent trap builders are deadlifts, explosive Olympic variations, power shrugs and to a degree overhead presses.

Really saw my traps take on growth with high rep deads.