why can't i feel anything on shrugs

[sm28]

i use a 45 dumbbell and i go up slow and hold from 3 seconds and slowly back down but i don't feel anything in my shoulders i don't think i have bad form and i don't think it too heavy so i don't know what to do.

[Gavin9]

45 is quite light for shrugs depending on your size/strength and are you sure your doing them properly?

[Number_Seven]

^Could be too light, but you should still feel something. Make sure you are doing them right. Put your feet together, make sure you're not pushing off with your legs and just bouncing the weight; though you probably are not if you let it down slowly.

That may actually be too much weight too, you should really be raising your shoulders pretty high. Make sure you're not doing 1/4 shrugs, try lighter weight.

[ddigangi]

there is more to it then just taking the 45s and doing some slow sets, trying upping the weight per set following a 10,8,6 (rep count)

head over to the bench, shrug the bar with some weight on it, same setup, or do your slow reps with holds, etc.

[terman1]

What do you mean by feel the exercise? Are you referring to while you are doing them or do you mean having DOMS the next day. Are you thinking about your traps while you're doing them or are you just shrugging your shoulders up and down? Maybe try going a little heavier and/or adding more reps. Can try them behind the back or seated for something different as well to see if you feel more of a connection.

[oldballs]

i use a 45 dumbbell and i go up slow and hold from 3 seconds and slowly back down but i don't feel anything in my shoulders i don't think i have bad form and i don't think it too heavy so i don't know what to do.

I had the same problem, try alternating dumbell shrugs, seems to hit it a little different. I also like behind the back shrugs using a low pully and standing about 3 feet away, seemed to hit the sweet spot for me. now I have no problem hitting them with any shrug.

[JohnCusack]

i use a 45 dumbbell and i go up slow and hold from 3 seconds and slowly back down but i don't feel anything in my shoulders i don't think i have bad form and i don't think it too heavy so i don't know what to do.

switch it to 55 and do this, or actually do about 50 reps per set at 45

my max shrug weight was 630 for 5 reps then my straps slipped

and i feel more of a burn doing lower weight high reps than i do moving 630

[unity]

I have always felt it best with power shrugs. Explode up but try to hold it at the top of the movement.

[ddigangi]

I have always felt it best with power shrugs. Explode up but try to hold it at the top of the movement.

+1 on power shrugs

[matjusm]

i use a 45 dumbbell and i go up slow and hold from 3 seconds and slowly back down but i don't feel anything in my shoulders i don't think i have bad form and i don't think it too heavy so i don't know what to do.

There really isn't much technique to shrugs so not a whole lot you can do wrong there.

Secondly, why are you talking about shoulders? Shrugs are a trap exercise. Anyway, just because you aren't feeling an exercise doesn't mean that the muscles that its used to train aren't being worked. You can't do a shrug without your traps (which I assume you're referring to) so don't be so worried about not feeling it.

[WannaBeATank]

Power cleans FTW.