Table Of Content
- What Is A Prone Trap Raise?
- How To Do A Prone Trap Raise
- Form Tips
- Workout
- Mistakes To Avoid
- Benefits
- Improvement Of Posture
- Reduction Of Potential Shoulder Injuries
- Prone Trap Raise Muscles Worked
- Prone Trap Raise Alternatives
- Final Thoughts
What Is A Prone Trap-Raise?
The prone trap raise is a lying lower traps exercise. It is often used to improve posture through better scapular control (scapular = shoulder blade).
It can be a difficult movement to perform, so pay attention to the guidelines and form tips below on how to do the prone trap raise.
Due to the overactivity of the upper trap, the often neglected lower traps can frequently be inactive. This results in an imbalance of the upper body. This exercise helps against that imbalance and can make a massive difference in your posture.
It is important to perform the prone trap raise correctly and not involve too much upper trap. Otherwise, it could worsen the imbalance.
How To Do A Prone Trap -Raise
It’s essential to know how to prevent and remedy posture imbalances, so don’t mind the five-minute length of the video.
Warm-Up & Performance
Always remember to warm up before exercising, especially for movements like these. Also, make sure to target the muscles you will be working on.
For the prone trap raise warm-up, start by moving your shoulders in circular motions in both directions to activate your shoulders.
After that, do the prone trap raise, beginning with no weights. Go through the motion and try to feel the targeted muscles by using the correct form and not through strong activation of the upper trap or the delts.
Prone Trap-Raise Form tips
- Set up the incline bench angle between 30 and 45 degrees
- For the beginning of the exercise keep your shoulder blades in a neutral position. Not rounding over or pulled too far back – find a middle ground.
- When starting the exercise, lift the arms straight upwards, in a V shape (pointing at 10 and 2 o’clock). Your palms should face each other (neutral position) and even be slightly rotated to the ceiling.
- During the movement, activate the targeted lower trap muscle and focus on keeping your shoulder blades back and down. Don’t let your shoulder roll forward at the bottom.
- Restrict the lifting movement if you feel the upper traps (upper trap dominant) and delts are involved. You want to stop or correct the form here. These are not the targeted muscles in this movement.
- Finally, reverse the movement to the starting position.
- When you feel the activation of the lower trap and the correct position of the shoulder blades ( back down and in), you are on the right path.
Workout
It is not recommended to overload with this exercise. Therefore, a high rep range is the right way to go.
Aim for a minimum of 15-20 reps, 3 – 5 sets, and 1 – 2 minutes of rest time.
Related Exercise Guides
- Calisthenics Exercise List
- Cable Pullover
- Cobra Push-Up
- David Goggins Pull-Up World Record
- Different Pull-Up Grips & Exercises
- Humble Row
- Pronated Lat Pulldown
- V-Bar Lat Pulldown
- 11 Inverted Row Alternatives
- Dead Hang Time Chart
- Does Boxing Build Muscle?
Prone Trap-Raise Mistakes To Avoid
Here are two common mistakes to avoid when doing the prone trap raise:
Rotating The Arms Internally
This will activate and load the upper trap, reducing the involvement and load of the lower trap and the targeted muscle of the prone trap raise.
This is important to prevent because it will worsen the imbalance of the upper body.
Use Of Heavy Weights And Low Repetitions
Keep in mind that the prone trap raise improves a postural muscle that is working consistently throughout the day.
This means the lower trap muscle is engaged for long periods. Not for a short amount of time. It only requires short, heavy reps or movements.
That’s why overloading this muscle is not recommended – aim for a minimum of 15-20 reps.
Prone Trap-Raise Benefits
Here are two main benefits of the prone trap raise:
Improvement Of Posture
The prone trap raise is an effective exercise to improve posture and create stability in the upper body by training the often neglected lower traps. It makes a massive difference.
Poor posture does not look good and can likely lead to pain.
Overactive upper traps (upper trap dominant) and the resulting disposition of the shoulder blades (too far up) are common causes of incorrect posture.
One reason for overactive traps is the involvement of upper traps in exercises, where they are not targeted due to poor technique.
Reduction Of Potential Shoulder Injuries
Rounding shoulders on the other hand can occur through an imbalance in anterior and posterior work – often too much front muscle work (delts and pecs) and less specific back movement and exercises, that would balance it out.
The prone trap raise remedies poor posture caused by overactive upper traps by working the lower traps, which pulls the shoulder blades down towards the spine.
Other back exercises that are beneficial for the improvement of posture because of the targeted muscles, which are pulling the shoulder blades closer to the spine:
Improving Posture Through Core Exercises:
Reduction Of Potential Shoulder Injuries
Forward-rounded shoulders can increase the potential for injury due to the suboptimal position.
If your shoulders are rounded, try to raise your arms above your head for once. Then do it again with your shoulder blades pulled down.
If your shoulder blades are back and down, a much greater range of motion is noticeable. This position of the shoulder blades enables the shoulder socket to open up.
The risk of shoulder impingements and potential injuries will, therefore, be reduced.
Prone Trap-Raise Muscles Worked
As mentioned, one primary muscle will be worked with this exercise:
Traps (Trapezius)
This exercise will primarily work the lower traps. This muscle moves the shoulder blades (scapula) down and closer to the spine.
The illustrated picture beside shows the trap muscle in the back. If the lower fibers of the trap were to lengthen and relax, imagine what would happen to the shoulder blades. This exercise achieves the opposite.
Related Nutrition Guides
- 30 Protein Sources To Increase Your Protein
- Can You Take Creatine Before Bed?
- Does Creatine Expire?
- How Long Does Sugar Stay In Your System?
- Is Pasta Good Or Bad For Bodybuilding?
- Salt Before Workout: Benefits Of Salt As Pre-Workout
- Can You Drink Protein Shakes Without Working Out?
- Should You Drink Protein Shakes On Rest Day?
- Will Pre-Workout Beak My Fast?
Supplements
Prone Trap-Raise Alternatives
Here are two prone trap-raise alternatives with a cable system:
Cable Y Raise
With both variations, use the correct form and activate the right muscle. Focus on pulling the shoulder blades back and down.
A high rep range is also recommended: 15-20 reps & 3-4 sets.
Final Thoughts
The prone trap raise is a great exercise for targeting the lower traps, improving posture, and creating stability in the back while reducing the risk of a shoulder injury in the long term. Once in a while, switch up your workout routine by using a prone trap raise alternative.
Related Exercise Guides
- Calisthenics Exercise List
- Cobra Push-Up
- Cable Pullover
- David Goggins Pull-Up World Record
- Different Pull-Up Grips & Exercises
- Humble Row
- Pronated Lat Pulldown
- V-Bar Lat Pulldown
- 11 Inverted Row Alternative Exercises
- Dead Hang Time Chart
- Does Boxing Build Muscle?
Calculators
- Macro & Calories Calculator + BMR & BMI
- Daily Protein Intake Calculator
- Daily Water Intake Calculator
Nutrition Guides
- 30 Protein Sources To Increase Your Protein
- Can You Take Creatine Before Bed?
- Does Creatine Expire?
- How Long Does Sugar Stay In Your System?
- Is Pasta Good Or Bad For Bodybuilding?
- Salt Before Workout: Benefits Of Salt As Pre-Workout
- Can You Drink Protein Shakes Without Working Out?
- Should You Drink Protein Shakes On Rest Day?
- Will Pre-Workout Beak My Fast?