TRX Shoulder Exercises: Basic & Advanced Workouts

Adding TRX suspension training to your workout routine provides an excellent way to build muscle and improve your balance and coordination using your body weight. It also has positive applications to older populations. Choosing the best TRX exercises is important, with many beginner and advanced movements for each muscle group.

I’ve broken down the best TRX shoulder exercises below and categorized them accordingly. I’ll also give you a great TRX shoulder workout to help get you started!

Overview of TRX Shoulder Training

The TRX system works as a full-body workout using adjustable straps and regular workout movements. A TRX system can be used by attaching the two straps to a solid pivot point. By using the resistance of your body weight against gravity, TRX straps provide a highly effective shoulder workout with the freely-movable joint lending itself well to suspension training.

TRX exercises can be great for shoulder training in many ways, for example, shoulder stability, scapula control, range of motion, and strength. TRX band shoulder exercises require stability through the shoulders and scapula to maintain correct form and avoid injury.

Basic TRX Shoulder Exercises

1. TRX T Delt Fly

• Muscles Worked: Deltoids, Lats, Rhomboids, Traps

TRX straps allow you to combine different types of training and switch from cardio exercise to a strength-oriented one at a glance. Just hook it on the horn from one side of the door and here you go. Let’s see the TRX upper body workout exercises that will tone up each muscle thoroughly.

2. TRX-Assisted Chin-Ups

• Muscles Worked: Front Delts, Abdominals, Chest

Adjust the TRX to just below mid-length and turn around so your body is facing toward the floor and away from the anchor point. Place both feet in the foot cradles and lift your body into a hand plank position. Engage your core and lower your elbows to 90 degrees whilst keeping a straight body position. Drive back up and return to the plank position. Keep your core engaged throughout the movement.

3. TRX Swimmers

• Muscles Worked: Front Delts, Abdominals, Triceps

Keeping the TRX at the mid-level, stand facing the anchor point to start. Place your hands by your sides at hip height and keep your palms back. Grip the TRX handles and assume an offset stance with one leg behind. Lower your body backward into a plank whilst keeping your arms straight and core engaged. Pull the handles and drive back towards the anchor point.

Advanced TRX Shoulder Exercises

1. TRX Alligators

• Muscles Worked: Deltoids, Lattisumus Doris, Rotator Cuffs

Set the TRX straps up at head height with the anchor facing you. Using an overhead grip, take a strap in each hand. Extend your arms out whilst leaning back with your feet flat on the ground. Engage your core and widen your arms so one goes up and the other goes down like an alligator’s mouth. Hold the position at the top and bring the straps down slowly to the starting position.

2. TRX Clock Press

• Muscles Worked: Front Deltoids, Pecs, Biceps, Rhomboids

Assemble the TRX bands so the handles are at waist height. Position your feet just outside of shoulder width apart with your hands securely over the handles. Lean forward with your arms fully extended in front of you, balancing in an upright plank position. Your weight should be shifted onto your toes with your body at approximately 40 degrees. Begin by flexing one arm, keeping it close to your body whilst simultaneously extending the opposite out to the side. Hold this position for a few seconds and revert to the original position and repeat. This exercise needs to be slow and controlled to get the proper stimulus and avoid injury due to its difficulty level.

3. Atomic Push-ups

• Muscles Worked: Front Deltoids, Pecs, Biceps, Rhomboids

Set the TRX system up so it’s hanging just above the floor. Lying face down with your body facing away, place a foot into each handle. Walk forward on your hands until your body is parallel to the ground. Brace your core and lower yourself down to your hands. Drive upwards with your arms whilst keeping your core engaged and back straight. Bring your feet up to your hips and hold the top position before returning to the start.

TRX Workout Program for Shoulders

Here’s how to program the exercises above for an excellent TRX shoulder workout.

In this program, the aim is to complete everything until failure for 3 rounds; implement this into your weekly routine consistently for a fun and engaging shoulder-dominant workout. Perform three rounds until failure, resting 90 seconds in between.

TRX Exercise	Sets	Rest
Atomic Push-ups	Perform each exercise consecutively in a circuit format	90 seconds rest between each round
TRX Delt Flys
TRX Alligators
TRX Swimmers

TRX System We Recommend – TRX Sweat System

The TRX Sweat System is a versatile bodyweight training kit that provides a full-body workout, whether your goal is strength, cardio, or core. The adjustable straps are made from high-quality nylon and attach to durable foam handles that are comfortable to grip. The metal anchor carabiner can support up to 700 pounds of user weight.
Included in the package is a door anchor, suspension anchor, mesh carry bag, and six sample workout downloads to get you started.

FAQ

What Are Trx Exercises Good For?

TRX workout is perfect for building up muscles and general physical strength, developing flexibility and mobility skills, boosting aerobic capabilities, and also strengthening the abdominals.

Conclusion

Your shoulder muscles are functionally complex and maintain the biggest range of motion out of any joint in your body. This makes them great for TRX training, with your core muscles working to keep your body balanced as you perform a wide variety of traditional and non-traditional gym exercises.

The exercises I’ve described above are suitable for a range of ability levels and workout goals, with the workout program providing an additional challenge.

Have you used the TRX system before? What are your favorite exercises? Let me know in the comments below.

Also read:

• Trx Back Exercises
• Trx Benefits
• Trx Workout

References:

1. How TRX Training Improves Strength, Balance, and Flexibility // Verywellfit: https://www.verywellfit.com/trx-suspension-training-4580454
2. TRX Suspension Training: A New Functional Training Approach for Older Adults – Development, Training Control and Feasibility // Ncbi: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3325639/
3. Anatomy, Shoulder and Upper Limb, Shoulder // Ncbi: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4833470/
4. Shoulder muscle activation during stable and suspended push-ups at different heights in healthy subjects// Sciencedirect: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1466853X14001096
5. The effect of eight-week TRX exercises on mild and moder- ate posture disorders // Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342233962_The_effect_of_eight-week_TRX_exercises_on_mild_and_moder-_ate_posture_disorders
6. Anatomy of the Shoulder Muscles Explained // Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/health/shoulder-muscles