The muscle activity developed by the trapezius (upper portion) and serratus anterior (lower portion) muscles in three modalities of supine exercises executed with two grips (open and middle), was compared with three modalities of frontal elevation in 24 male volunteers 18 to 25 years old. The trapezius muscle acted preferentially in all frontal elevation modalities and not in supine exercises. The serratus anterior muscle acted more significantly in frontal elevation exercises than in the supine horizontal and inverted plans with both grips, but there was no significant difference in the responses to frontal exercises and supine exercises in the inclined plan.