Cable Shrug primarily works the upper back and grip. It is categorized as a pull movement and uses Cable machine.
- Primary muscles
- upper back and grip
- Equipment
- Cable machine
- Movement pattern
- pull
- Catalog difficulty
- 2 of 5
How to do Cable Shrug
- Handles at sides, stand tall
- Elevate shoulders toward ears
- Lower fully before the next rep
Common mistakes
- Bending elbows — arms stay long
Muscles worked
The primary catalog target is upper back, with grip also involved. Exercise feel varies with setup, range of motion, and individual anatomy.
Related exercises and substitutions
A useful substitute should preserve the job this movement has in the session—not merely train a nearby body part. Explore the related Movviva guides below, then compare pattern, target muscles, available equipment, and difficulty.
Band Row · Machine Row · Barbell Shrug
Put Cable Shrug into a plan that adapts.
Movviva builds strength, mobility, and conditioning around your goal, schedule, equipment, and completed training—then gives you the next workout with guided targets and smart swaps.