Lower Trapezius: Functional Anatomy Guide

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By Alex
Last updated on

The lower trapezius (G. trapeza, four-sided or four-legged table.) is not an individual muscle, itself, but rather it is the lowermost section of fibers in the trapezius muscle. It acts on the scapula, with its main role as the prime mover in scapular depression.

Upper Trapezius

Also worth noting is its important role as a scapular stabilizer: it is a synergist in scapular upward rotation, which is required for raising the arm overhead through a full range of motion.

It is a superficial posterior axioappendicular (extrinsic shoulder) muscle, located on the thoracic spinal region of the back. It’s in the most superficial layer of muscle, sitting atop portions of the rhomboids, lats and infraspinatus.

The lower trapezius originates from the lowest six thoracic vertebrae. It has parallel-oriented fibers that run superolaterally and converge as they approach their insertion on the medial scapular spine.

The lower traps, much like the middle traps, is an oft-ignored muscle. Most people don’t even know it exists, thinking the upper traps make up the entire trapezius muscle…

…People’s lack of awareness of the lower traps is one reason why it is weak in the vast majority of people, weight trainees, athletes and general population alike.

Also Called

  • Lower traps
  • Lower trapezius fibers
  • Lower fibers (of the trapezius)

Origin, Insertion, Action & Nerve Supply

Muscle Lower Trapezius
Origin Spinous processes of the lowest 6 thoracic vertebrae (T6-T12)
Insertion Medial third of the spine of the scapula (on a tubercle at the end of the smooth triangular surface)
Action
  • Scapular depression
  • Scapular upward rotation
  • Thoracic extension
  • Thoracic lateral flexion (ipsilateral)
Nerve Supply
  • Spinal accessory nerve (CN IX)
  • Cervical spinal nerves (C3-C4)

Exercises:

Note: Most of the Y exercises can be done unilaterally (one arm at a time). This can improve activation and technique when first starting lower trapezius training.

The various I, T and W exercises, which target the rhomboids and middle trapezius (and external rotators), also work the lower traps significantly, albeit less directly than the Y exercises.

Dumbbell Exercises:

  • Prone floor Y raise
  • Prone flat bench Y raise
  • Prone incline Y raise
  • Bent over Y raise (head-supported)
  • Prone cobra (arms in Y position)

Cable Exercises:

  • Face pull
  • Scap lat pulldown

Weighted Exercises:

  • Scap dip
  • Scap pull up (or chin up)

Bodyweight Exercises:

  • Prone floor Y raise
  • Prone flat bench Y raise
  • Prone cobra (arms in Y position)
  • Prone incline Y raise
  • Scap dip
  • Scap pull up (or chin up)
  • Scapular wall slide
  • Forearm wall slide

Isometric Exercises:

  • Prone floor Y hold
  • Prone flat bench Y hold
  • Prone incline Y hold
  • Bent over Y hold (head-supported)
  • Prone cobra hold (arms in Y position)
  • Scap lat pulldown hold
  • Scap dip hold
  • Scap pull up (or chin up) hold

Stretches & Myofascial Release Techniques:

Stretches

The following stretches are the same as those for the rhomboids.

  • Fixed bar back stretch
  • Cross-arm stretch

Self Myofascial Release Techniques

When using these techniques, give special attention to the trigger points labeled TrP3 and TrP4 in the image below.

Trapezius trigger points

Tool

  • Foam roller
  • Lacrosse ball
  • Backnobber II

Common Issues:

  • Inhibited/Lengthened Lower Trapezius: The lower trapezius is inhibited and long in individuals with upper crossed syndrome (UCS). The excessive thoracic kyphosis and scapular protraction that comes with UCS, causes the lower trapezius to get stretched out and weak. One effect of lower trapezius inhibition is the reduced ability to posteriorly tilt the scapula during scapular upward rotation, which is required for proper overhead arm movement. When this can’t happen properly, there’s increased chance of shoulder impingement and overhead range of motion is restricted. The reduced overhead mobility is often compensated for with excessive lumbar extension and jutting the head forward. Also, lower trapezius inhibition causes poor scapular depression, which leads to poor technique on upper body pull exercises because your scapulae tend to stay in an elevated position. This restricts scapular mobility and forces you to rely on arm strength and lumbar extension (for momentum) to lift the weight on pull exercises.

Training Notes:

  1. If you have inhibited/lengthened lower trapezius, do the following:
    • Strengthen lower trapezius with direct exercises. I recommend starting with scapular wall slides and unilateral prone floor Y raises. Once you get the hang of those exercises, you can add another exercise or two, and use the bilateral Y raise variations.
    • Release and stretch the pectoralis major, pectoralis minor and the latissimus dorsi. These muscles, which are very tight and short, are the main culprits responsible for pulling you into the hunched-over posture that’s stretching out your lower traps.
    • Reduce the use of heavy overhead presses until you restore your lower trapezius strength and improve your overhead range of motion. In the mean time, you can do the high incline shoulder press for heavy shoulder work.
    • Address the other issues related to upper crossed syndrome, which is (most likely) the root cause of your lower trapezius weakness. See how to fix upper crossed syndrome (article coming soon) for specific details.
  2. Even if you don’t have any postural issues or any (noticeable) lower trapezius dysfunction, it’s still a good idea to include some lower trapezius exercises somewhere in your training. Pretty much everyone stands to benefit from stronger lower traps.
Alex from King of the Gym
Author
Hey! My name is Alex and I'm the founder and author of King of the Gym. I've been lifting weights seriously since 2005 in high school when I started a home gym in my parents' basement. I started writing about fitness in 2009. Then, in 2014, I got into writing home gym equipment reviews and I haven't looked back. My current home gym is in my own house and it's constantly growing and evolving. My goal is to help you build the home gym of your dreams! Read more about me here.

9 thoughts on “Lower Trapezius: Functional Anatomy Guide”

  1. Enjoy your articles . Is there a problem with the images……I have never ben able to see any of them, waiting smetimes up to half an hour while reviewing the article.
    Laptop keeps trying….

    Reply
    • Hi Jane. Sorry for the confusion. Unfortunately, there are no images (yet).

      When you click/hover over the links, there should be a filler image that shows up saying “image coming soon.”

      Eventually, I will be going through all of the anatomy pages and adding images, but I can’t give you an exact date for when that will be.

      Best,
      Alex

      Reply
  2. Great article!!! I have a question though, I have been trying to figure out my shoulders/back situation for over a year now with little to now help. Whenever retract my scapula at all, I get pain in-between my shoulder blades. I have gone to a few physical therapists and chiros + got MRI’s and only thing they say is I have to pull my shoulders back and strengthen lower traps and rhomboids. But the problem is if I pull my shoulders back at all, that’s where the pain comes from. I just started getting deep tissue massages around my scapula and that helps tremendously but its only temporary. I am just confused on what is going on???

    Reply
  3. Excellent posts, I am enjoying the anatomy articles with common issues and how to fix them. When is the article on how to fix UCS coming out? I can see the posts are fairly old, hope you haven’t forgotten about it!

    Reply
    • Hi Mario, thanks — Unfortunately, I’ve but that article on the backburner for now. However, if you have any specific questions about UCS, just ask and I’ll do my best to answer you here.

      Reply
  4. Hi there, I can’t seem to open some of the pictures on your website (for example the picture for the face pull excercise). Using google chrome on windows 10.

    Reply
    • Hi, There’s actually no problem on your side. I originally made the link/hover for image feature on thinking that I was going to shoot and upload all the exercise photos for each muscle group in the anatomy section — but that turned out to be a monumental task that I never was able to finish. Sorry for the confusion and inconvenience.

      Reply

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