[1][2] The lifter stands erect, hands about shoulder width apart, and slowly raises the shoulders as high as possible, and then slowly lowers them, while not bending the elbows, or moving the body at all.
[2] The lifter may not have as large a range of motion as in a normal shrug done for active flexibility.
It is usually considered good form if the slope of the shoulders is horizontal in the elevated position.
A barbell, dumbbells, trap bar,[3] resistance bands, parallel bars,[4] or a Smith machine[5] may be used for resistance, and overhand, inside, outside, underhand or mixed grip can be used.
The core muscle that gets activated during shoulder shrugs are trapezius.