Performance

A large study published in Sports Medicine recently uncovered a major issue in exercise science: most research findings do not hold up when other teams try to repeat them.

Most lifters walk into the gym thinking about their warm-up sets, their bracing, or how much weight is on the bar. But one quick movement — often overlooked — can dramatically improve shoulder stability, upper-back strength, and overall performance. It takes only a few seconds, yet it sets the foundation for safer and more efficient lifting. That movement is the scapular squeeze.