BB Rows = Sore Traps?

[exreds]

So I've been focusing a lot on Barbell Rows (palms in) for my back. I'm absolutely loving this exercise and it really leaves my middle back/lats sore.

What I'm wondering about is the traps muscles. These muscles also feel sore after the rows, is it normal?

I'm asking because I know that rows should be done with perfect posture so I'm just a bit worried if I'm doing something wrong.

Appreciate any input.

[AmazinJason]

the more upright you are, the more you will use your traps

it is normal to feel your traps being worked though to a certain extent

[exreds]

It makes sense. And it's true, yesterday I did them without bending at the waist so much. My back was a bit far from parallel to the floor.

The thing is that my back is completely sore (the "feel good" kind sore). But my traps too.

[t_rave]

If your traps feel like they're the 'good sore', than why complain. Your body gets worked different as the angle of your back changes. If your posture is high your doing the rows while your body is more upright, hence where upright rows derive from. Anyways play with your back angles to hit different parts of your back once you can comfortably recognize it.

[exreds]

True. I'm just a bit paranoid when it concerns my back cause I had some problems with it before from bad form. And the last thing I need now is time off from the gym.

Just gonna vary the angles and keep rowing strong.

[TOS98SS]

I did them the other day and my traps were hammered among my whole back I love it .

I don't do them every week cause I don't like the strain on my back .you can switch it up with t bar rows

[terman1]

So I've been focusing a lot on Barbell Rows (palms in) for my back. I'm absolutely loving this exercise and it really leaves my middle back/lats sore.

What I'm wondering about is the traps muscles. These muscles also feel sore after the rows, is it normal?

I'm asking because I know that rows should be done with perfect posture so I'm just a bit worried if I'm doing something wrong.

Appreciate any input.

Yes, it's normal. If you're really concerned with the trap involvement you can do something like seated cable rows instead if it really concerns you but honestly I like to think of trap involvement in bent-over barbell rows as more of a added benefit, not really a bad thing, imo.

[exreds]

Yeah I actually like that the traps are also getting work done. I was just afraid that it could be a sign of poor form.

Anyways I don't have a low cable pulley in my gym so I gotta stick with rows for my middle back, which is probably for the best anyway.

[mslman71]

There's always going to be trap involvement in this movement. Your shoulder blades are effectively hung off your traps and even if you are not using them in a dynamic sense they will still be worked to maintain position & stability (isometric) during the row. As others have said you can decrease their involvement by decreasing your upper body angle w.r.t. the horizon.

[terman1]

Yeah I actually like that the traps are also getting work done. I was just afraid that it could be a sign of poor form.

Anyways I don't have a low cable pulley in my gym so I gotta stick with rows for my middle back, which is probably for the best anyway.

Yes, they are very good so as long as they're not causing any issues for you. Since you don't currently have a low pulley/row station, if you do decide that you want something for your back that's a little more supported you can try alternating with db bench rows as well sometimes. I usually do them once a week.

http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...ntOverRow.html

[exreds]

Yeah I've been doing them already, great exercise also.

I'm currently on a Full Body Schedule and my back workout is something like:

MON - Lat Pull Downs
WED - One Arm DB Rows
FRI - Pull Ups + BB Rows

On Friday is my "kill" day and I do 2 exercises for the big muscles (Chest/Back/Quads).

If I feel that my back is starting to be strained from the BB rows I'll probably switch them for the T-Bar Rows, which seems like a good idea as the user TOS98 posted above.

T-Bar Rows are usually "easier" on the back?

PS: I'm only asking for variety sake, since until now I had no problems from the BB rows. Altough when I do squats or DL's on the same workout I do feel a bit of a strained back.

[DanielBeauchamp]

It's not a problem; your traps are simply weaker and thus they hurt more.

T-bar rows are pure murder if you do them heavy enough. Don't expect any relief.

[Tyciol]

So I've been focusing a lot on Barbell Rows (palms in) for my back. I'm absolutely loving this exercise and it really leaves my middle back/lats sore.

What I'm wondering about is the traps muscles. These muscles also feel sore after the rows, is it normal?

I'm asking because I know that rows should be done with perfect posture so I'm just a bit worried if I'm doing something wrong.

Appreciate any input.

Yes, it's normal. Any muscles besides your lats that you use to pull your arms (and held weight) up are going to attach to your scapula, which would slump down unless the trapezius and rhomboids retract them. This includes the teres major, long head of the tricep, posterior deltoid, and maybe the teres minor/infraspinatus (I've read these come into play when the elbows are splayed out, I'm not sure if they do when the elbows come in).

Plus, I think I read somewhere that the lower+upper traps co-contraction helps to extend the neck, so I guess it'd help hold your head up too. Though there's other muscles that do that so I dunno.

If you don't want to feel traps, you can keep the elbows in to try and recruit the lats as much as possible, but rows aren't really the best way to try and isolate them, ExRx at most calls rows "general back". I've only seen lat listed as prime mover for pulldown/over/up exercises.

[exreds]

Great info.

Thx for all the input.