The traps are an oft-neglected muscle group, but they are actually a key part of completing your workout regimen. Not only do strong traps add stability to the spine, but they are also a major contributor to overall upper body strength. Cable exercises are a great way to target and strengthen your traps. Read on to learn about the positive benefits of incorporating cable exercises into your workouts.

First, cable exercises engage multiple muscles including the rhomboids, trapezius, deltoids, and latissimus dorsi. While free weights are great for certain workouts, they can neglect some muscles which is where cable exercises come in. This helps to create an overall balance in the body and helps ensure even growth and development in the traps.

Second, cable exercises engage your traps throughout a full range of motion from the start of each rep to the end. This helps to create a larger muscle recruitment and more overall fatigue. With free weights, your ability to move through a full range of motion is limited. This can limit the effectiveness of the exercise and hinders the ability of the traps to reach full development.

Third, cable exercises can be done in both eccentric and concentric phases. This means you can do moves like raises and shrugs where you both lift the weight up and then lower it down from a fully extended position. This helps to more effectively target the traps and gives them a more thorough workout.

Fourth, cable exercises can be done differently depending on your fitness level. Because the cable column can move from different angles, you can adjust the angle to make an exercise more or less difficult. For example, you can use a short range of motion for a beginner or use a longer range of motion for someone with more experience.

Fifth, cable exercises can be completed with a resistance band to target the trap muscles more effectively. While a cable column is effective, some exercises like face pulls can be done with a resistance band. By adding a resistance band to cable exercises, you can increase the tension in the traps and get an even better workout/

Finally, cable exercises can help reduce the risk of injury. Because the cable column helps control the movement of the weight, it is less likely that you will place excessive stress on your muscles. This means fewer opportunities for straining your muscles or putting your joints in an awkward position.

In conclusion, the cable is an invaluable part of any strength training program. Cable exercises are great for targeting the traps and help to build overall upper body strength and stability. They can be used to create fatigue without putting your joints in an awkward position, and they can be adjusted for exercisers of all fitness levels. So if you want to give your traps an effective workout, try cable exercises today!