Hi, so my question is is there a difference between initiating a rep by contracting the muscle then leading up to the movement vs doing the movement and let the muscle contraction happens as a result?
I ask this question because I have a very hard time activating my trap (middle and lower specifically) and I use Joe’s cut to retract the scapular. However my coach told me that I should think of using the muscle first (middle and lower trap) and use that contraction to pull the scapular together instead of the other way around.
I usually do this to all other muscle group as I find a better feel (higher recruitment) to a movement in this way, but it seemed to contradict the cue Joe give (pulling shoulder blade together), thanks!!
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