TikTok User’s Unilateral Trapezius Workout: A Cautionary tale of Looks-Minimizing and Viral Trends
In the ever-evolving landscape of social media trends, one collage student’s experiment has sparked a mix of amusement, concern, and even a short-lived cryptocurrency craze. But is this extreme approach to “looks-minimizing” a harmless stunt or a potential health risk?
The online world is no stranger to bizarre trends, but the recent exploits of a TikTok user known as TheCrookedMon have taken “looksmaxxing” to a new, unsettling level. Looksmaxxing, a term often associated with online communities focused on male self-advancement and physical attractiveness, typically involves optimizing one’s appearance through various means.TheCrookedMon, however, has taken a decidedly different approach: focusing exclusively on building one trapezius muscle.
For over 160 days, this college student has documented his journey on TikTok, showcasing the increasingly prominent muscle that now diagonally stretches from the left side of his head to his left shoulder. These daily updates, chronicled on his TikTok account, have garnered a significant amount of attention, raising questions about the motivations and potential consequences of this unusual experiment.
Image by TheCrookedMon via TikTok
TheCrookedMon’s methods are as unconventional as his goal. His workouts involve performing shrugs on his left side only, using a variety of objects, including, in some instances, a dog, a backpack,and even a pack of drinks at the grocery store. The use of a live animal as workout equipment has drawn condemnation from viewers, with some saying that this is where he crossed the line.
Reactions to TheCrookedMon’s experiment have been mixed, with many expressing concern for his well-being.
“Bro you proved your point,”
TikTok user
one user commented, adding a crying emoji to emphasize their concern. Others where more direct, with comments like,
“bro stop please.”
TikTok User
However, some viewers were impressed by TheCrookedMon’s dedication, with one user declaring,
“This is literally the biggest flex I’ve ever seen.”
TikTok User
This extreme and somewhat bizarre trend quickly captured the internet’s attention, even inspiring the creation of a memecoin called $TRAPMAN. According to DexScreener, the coin briefly spiked to $0.00003649 upon its launch on April 13th before crashing almost instantly, highlighting the volatile and often unpredictable nature of meme-based cryptocurrencies. This rise and fall mirrors other meme coins like Dogecoin or Shiba Inu, demonstrating the speculative and risky endeavors of investing based on internet trends. The ephemeral nature of these digital assets underscores the importance of due diligence and financial literacy, especially for younger investors who may be more susceptible to hype-driven investments. The fate of $TRAPMAN serves as a cautionary tale within the broader context of cryptocurrency speculation, especially those investments tied to fleeting viral trends.
Health Implications and the Cross-Education Effect
While the long-term health consequences of TheCrookedMon’s experiment remain to be seen, it raises critically important questions about the potential risks and benefits of unilateral training. Concentrating solely on one side of the body can lead to muscle imbalances, which can, in turn, cause a range of problems, including pain, stiffness, and an increased risk of injury. Physical therapists in the U.S. frequently address these issues stemming from everyday activities like carrying a heavy bag on one shoulder or favoring one side during sports.
However,research suggests that unilateral training can also have surprising benefits. Studies have shown that working out one side of the body can lead to strength gains in the opposite limb, a phenomenon known as the “cross-education effect” or “cross-training.” This effect is thought to be mediated by neural pathways, where training one side triggers activity in the corresponding areas of the brain, which then influences the untrained limb, the “cross-education.”
This is particularly relevant for individuals recovering from injuries or those with disabilities affecting one side of their body. For example, a stroke patient undergoing rehabilitation may benefit from unilateral exercises on their unaffected side to improve strength and motor function in their affected limb. This approach is often used in physical therapy settings across the United States to maximize recovery outcomes.
Despite the potential benefits of the “cross-training effect,” experts caution against adopting extreme or unbalanced workout regimens like TheCrookedMon’s. Rather, they recommend a well-rounded training plan that addresses all muscle groups and promotes overall balance and stability.
The Motivation Behind the Madness
in a tongue-in-cheek TikTok video, thecrookedmon attempted to explain his seemingly irrational decision to intentionally “sacrifice his looks.”
“I was scrolling TikToks in my Ferrari, and I kept getting these looksmaxxing TikToks,”
TheCrookedMon
“And they were like, ‘Do this, do that, you’ll look more attractive, you’ll get more women.”
TheCrookedMon
“And it’s like, people have that problem?”
TheCrookedMon
“I’ve the opposite problem. I get so many DMs I don’t even have time to get through them all.”
thecrookedmon
“If I have the opposite problem, then I need the opposite solution,”
TheCrookedMon
This satirical description suggests that TheCrookedMon’s experiment is, in part, a commentary on the frequently enough-absurd world of online aesthetics and the pressures of conforming to societal beauty standards.
what’s Next for TheCrookedMon?
Adding another layer to his perplexing experiment, TheCrookedMon has now started working out just his right leg. This raises further questions about the trajectory of his “looks-minimizing” journey and the potential for even more extreme physical transformations. This continued focus on unilateral training highlights the need for caution and awareness regarding the potential risks of unbalanced workout routines.
