E. 162 Why Your Traps Keep Growing (The Real Problem Isn’t Genetics)

About this episode

Cory Hageman discusses the impact of scapular stability on muscle recruitment and trap growth, debunking common misconceptions and emphasizing the importance of proper training techniques.

In this episode, I break down why so many people struggle to actually target the muscles they’re trying to grow—and why poor scapular stability is often the real issue behind trap dominance, neck tension, and upper body imbalances. I explain how instability at the scapula changes muscle recruitment patterns, why many rear delt and shoulder exercises unintentionally become trap exercises, and how improving scapular control can completely change your upper body development. We also cover common misconceptions around trap growth, overhead pressing mechanics, warm-up strategies, and why most people are searching for quick fixes instead of addressing the real problem. Timestamps: - [00:00 – 04:49] – Why trap dominance happens and how scapular stability affects upper body training. - [04:50 – 07:10] – Scapular movement explained and why instability changes muscle recruitment. - [07:11 – 09:44] – Trap growth misinformation, PED myths, and why genetics aren’t the full story. - [09:45 – 14:59] – The real issue: scapular instability, elevation vs depression, and compensation patterns. - [15:00 – 17:44] – The biggest mistakes during lateral raises and rear delt flies that overgrow traps…

People in this episode

Host: Cory Hageman

Topics covered

• scapular stability
• muscle recruitment
• trap growth
• upper body development
• overhead pressing
• warm-up strategies

Keywords

• trap dominance
• scapular instability
• muscle imbalances
• rear delt exercises
• quick fixes
• mobility drills

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