I'm Steve — MiniWorkoutDad!
Your Shoulders Will Thank You For a Great Phase 8
Phase 8 is the shoulder exercise that doesn’t actually work your shoulders very much! What it does, is build the upper back strength to facilitate proper shoulder function.
Phase 8 rehabilates shoulders by building your upper back
Modern life is not great for your shoulders.
Sitting hunched over a keyboard or steering wheel, with your arms forward, can lead to a forward bias in the joint. You may even have “rounded shoulders” as a result.
And, if you’ve been hitting the gym hard, you may have developed a lot of strength in your front delts and pecs, but not so much across the shoulders at the back. This imbalance biases your shoulders forward too (I believe this ended my gym days).
The symptoms are tightness and pinching or burning when pressing or lifting overhead.
The solution is to build the upper back strength to draw the shoulders back into position, but also to resist the forward pull of the anterior muscles. And, that’s why we do Phase 8!
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Find out moreWhat muscles does Phase 8 work?
Phase 8 starts with a tough triceps extension that complements Phase 7, but the main event are the shrugs.

Core, back and buttocks (glutes)
Holding your upright posture and the weight with hands at belly button level, taxes your glutes, your lower back and spinal support muscles. Because your arms are bent, holding the weight up, your biceps and forearms also get a workout.

Rear delts (shoulders), trapezius, teres min. & maj., Rhomboids, etc
Phase 8 helps strengthens all the upper back muscles responsible for holding your shoulders back in the correct position for proper function. You can see these muscles at shoulder blade level and above.
Watch the video for pointers on how to master a great Phase 8!
Remember, every time you do my workout, you’re investing in your future health – whether that’s pain-free shoulders or cardio-vascular capacity. Let’s build a longer and more fulfilling life together!
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