Ask someone in the gym to point to their trapezius muscles, and they’ll probably gesture toward the small mounds nestled between their neck and shoulders—but that’s really just the tip of the iceberg.

If you’ve been in the gym long enough, you’ve probably seen the upright row fall in and out of favour more times than low-carb diets. For some lifters, it’s a staple delt-builder. For others, it’s a ...