If you're looking for an effective exercise to strengthen your upper body while improving your balance, you might want to consider shoulder taps. This exercise involves getting into a plank position and tapping your opposite shoulder with your hand. While it may seem simple, shoulder taps actually work a variety of muscles throughout your body. Here's what you need to know about shoulder taps muscles worked.
What are shoulder taps?
Before we dive into the muscles worked, let's first review how to do shoulder taps correctly. Here's a step-by-step guide:
- Start in a plank position with your hands shoulder-width apart and your feet hip-width apart.
- Lift your right hand off the ground and tap your left shoulder.
- Return your right hand to the ground.
- Lift your left hand off the ground and tap your right shoulder.
- Return your left hand to the ground.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Shoulder taps muscles worked
Now that you know how to do shoulder taps, let's discuss the muscles worked. Shoulder taps are primarily an upper body exercise that target the following muscles:
- Shoulders
- Chest
- Triceps
- Core
When you're in the plank position, your shoulders and chest are engaged to keep your upper body stable. As you lift your hand to tap your shoulder, your triceps are activated to extend your arm. Your core muscles are also working to maintain proper form and balance.
Benefits of shoulder taps
In addition to targeting multiple muscle groups, shoulder taps offer a variety of benefits:
- Improves balance: By lifting one hand off the ground, you're challenging your balance and stability.
- Strengthens upper body: As we mentioned earlier, shoulder taps work your shoulders, chest, and triceps.
- Engages core: Your core muscles are activated throughout the exercise to keep your body stable and prevent sagging hips.
- Can be done anywhere: Shoulder taps require no equipment, making them a great exercise to do at home or while traveling.
- Variations available: Once you've mastered the basic shoulder tap, there are several variations you can try to make the exercise more challenging.
Common mistakes to avoid
While shoulder taps are a relatively simple exercise, there are some common mistakes to watch out for:
- Sagging hips: To prevent sagging hips, engage your core muscles throughout the exercise and keep your body in a straight line.
- Rounded shoulders: Keep your shoulders away from your ears and avoid rounding them forward.
- Improper hand placement: Make sure your hands are directly under your shoulders and not too far forward or backward.
Conclusion
Shoulder taps are a great exercise to incorporate into your upper body and core workout routine. By targeting multiple muscle groups and offering a variety of benefits, they're an effective and efficient exercise that can be done anywhere. Just make sure to avoid common mistakes and maintain proper form to get the most out of this exercise.