Thursday, 29 November 2012

Training tip: Figure and bikini athletes DO NOT train traps!


Shrugs.

This is one exercise in my opinion that a women should never do.

Example of a shrug exercise:


It focuses especially on the upper trapezius muscle (see illustration).  If you planning on competing in either a figure or bikini division, you should never specifically develop this muscle group, large trapezius muscles (or traps like we refer to them in the gym room) does not add to the feminine physique the judges are looking for. It’s also a muscle that once developed, is very hard to break down. 
If you are a bodybuilding lady or want to develop your traps specifically , then by all means.
This does not mean that these muscles will go un-trained.  The trapezius muscles are engaged whilst doing various exercises in your back and shoulder workouts.

Short anatomy. 

In human anatomy, the trapezius is a large superficial muscle that extends longitudinally from the occipital bone to the lower thoracic vertebrae and laternally to the spine of the scapula (shoulder blade). Its functions are to move the scapulae and support the arm.
The trapezius has three functional regions: the superior region (descending part), which supports the weight of the arm; the intermediate region (transverse part), which retracts the scapulae; and the inferior region (ascending part), which medially rotates and depresses the scapulae. (Wikkipedia)



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