Trap involvement in the press

[ryanpatrick990]

For quite some time the only vertical pressing movement I did was the seated dumbbell press before beginning Starting Strength. Since incorporating the standing barbell press I've noticed my traps are much more involved in the vertical pressing now than they were with the seated dumbbell press. I can feel their involvement much more during the exercise and I was just curious as to why this could be?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Could it be that you are now pressing correctly, which involves a tremendous amount of trap contraction? As described in the book?

[ryanpatrick990]

Yes, after thinking about it, I think concentrating on shrugging into the top position of the press is what is engaging my traps much more than in the seated dumbbell press.