Shrugging during an upper body exercise is a common compensation that is recognized by most movement specialists as a weakness issue. Typically associated with rotator cuff deficits, the shrugging motion is created to elevate the arm when there is a significant tear in the cuff. That compensation is also noted when there is no known rotator cuff pathology, however the same thought process is applied and may be underappreciating the complexity of the issue at hand.