How to do the Scapular Pull-up
Take a pronated grip on a pull-up bar.
From a hanging position, raise yourself a few inches without using your arms. Do this by depressing your shoulder girdle in a reverse shrugging motion.
Pause at the completion of the movement, and then slowly return to the starting position before performing more repetitions.
Sets and reps
| Goal | Sets | Reps | Rest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muscle growth | 2–4 | 10–15 | 1 min |
| Muscular endurance | 2–3 | 15–25 | 45 s |
When you hit the top of the rep range on every set, add a rep or a harder variation next session.
Starting points from training research. Stop each set 1–3 reps short of failure.
Muscles worked
Primary
Secondary
The upper traps lift and rotate your shoulder blades. Shrugs, heavy carries and pulls from the floor build them.
Alternatives
Same muscles, similar movement: swap in one of these if the Scapular Pull-up doesn’t suit your gym or your joints.
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