Back · Leverage Machine
Plate Loaded Lever Shrug
How to do the plate loaded lever shrug, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Leverage Machine
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Extension
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Stand inside the plate-loaded lever shrug machine and grip the handles at your sides with arms straight. Shrug your shoulders straight up as high as possible, squeeze at the top, then lower under control.
- 1Your upper traps lifting your shoulders toward your ears
- 2Your arms staying straight and relaxed so the traps do the work
- 3A brief squeeze at the peak of each shrug
Common mistakes
- Avoid rolling your shoulders; shrug straight up and down
- Do not bend your elbows or use momentum
- Avoid pushing your head forward; keep your neck neutral
Muscles worked
The plate loaded lever shrug mainly works the upper traps.
- Upper TrapsPrimary
- ForearmsMinor
- Side DeltsMinor
Kovo programs the plate loaded lever shrug for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More back exercises
- How to do the archer pull-up
- How to do the resistance band assisted pull-up
- How to do the machine assisted pull-up
- How to do the back extension bench back extension
- How to do the machine back extension
- How to do the back lever
Last reviewed June 2026.