The middle trapezius muscle appears to
produce its greatest muscle activity during horizontal pulling exercises such as the
bent -
over row, seated
row and inverted
row regardless of stability requirement or scapula retraction.
In general, it seems that compound exercises that involve carrying an external load with a flexed trunk (as in deadlift or
bent -
over row), shoulder adduction or shoulder extension (as in horizontal
rows, pull - ups and lat pull - downs) all
produce very high trapezius muscle activity.