Ask someone in the weight room to point to their trapezius muscle, or “traps” in gym-speak, and they’ll probably gesture toward the small mounds of muscle nestled in between their neck and shoulders.

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 spent any time in a gym, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with the cable machine. This functional piece of exercise equipment, also referred to as a pulley machine, is a staple in many ...