Dumbbell Shrug vs Barbell Upright Row

Maximizing Your Shoulder Workout Plan

Contents

Planfit users log Barbell Upright Row more often — 4,261 sessions vs 1,094. Compare Shoulder form, muscles worked, and when to use each.

Customize Your Shoulder Workout: Explore the Benefits of Dumbbell Shrug and Barbell Upright Row for Better Comparison.

Planfit Users' Choice about Dumbbell Shrug vs Barbell Upright Row : Which is Better?

Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Barbell Upright Row more often — 4,261 sessions compared to 1,094 for Dumbbell Shrug.

Popularity is not the whole answer. Dumbbell Shrug and Barbell Upright Row differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.

How Dumbbell Shrug and Barbell Upright Row Differ

What differsDumbbell ShrugBarbell Upright Row
Muscles workedtrapsside delts and traps
Equipmenta dumbbella barbell
Difficulty5 of 54 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users1,094 sessions4,261 sessions

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How to Dumbbell Shrug

Dumbbell Shrug gif

Dumbbell Shrug muscles worked: Shoulder

Form

  1. 1. Please lift the dumbbell while shrugging your shoulders.
  2. 2. Slowly return to the starting position.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. When lowering the dumbbells, do not just drop them; lower them slowly.
  2. 2. Please ensure that your neck does not protrude excessively forward.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Dumbbell Shrug, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Dumbbell Shrug Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Dumbbell Shrug methods?Exercise Guide

How to Barbell Upright Row

Barbell Upright Row gif

Barbell Upright Row muscles worked: Shoulder

Form

  1. 1. Please lift the barbell to shoulder height while keeping it close to your body.
  2. 2. Slowly return to the starting position.

Coach's Comment

  1. Since this exercise can put strain on the shoulders, please substitute it with another exercise if you hear any sounds or feel pain in your shoulders.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Barbell Upright Row, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Barbell Upright Row Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Barbell Upright Row methods?Exercise Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Shoulder, Dumbbell Shrug or Barbell Upright Row?

Planfit users log Barbell Upright Row more often — 4,261 sessions against 1,094 for Dumbbell Shrug. Both train Shoulder, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.

Do Dumbbell Shrug and Barbell Upright Row work the same muscles?

Not quite. Dumbbell Shrug loads traps, and Barbell Upright Row loads side delts and traps.

What equipment do Dumbbell Shrug and Barbell Upright Row need?

Dumbbell Shrug needs a dumbbell, and Barbell Upright Row needs a barbell.

Which is easier to start with?

Barbell Upright Row is the easier place to start. Move to Dumbbell Shrug once your form holds up.

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