‘I’m a pelvic floor PT – this simple core move works better than dead bugs’

It’s not that Rachel Collins thinks dead bugs aren’t a good core exercise, it’s just that, for the majority of us, she thinks there might be a better alternative: weighted taps.

Below, the pelvic floor expert tells WH why she’s made the swap and how to nail your technique to get the most out of this exercise.

‘The Dead Bug is a popular core exercise but maintaining proper form to ensure good core connection is also very difficult,’ says Collins, who focuses on abdominal strengthening in much of her work as a pelvic floor physical therapist. ‘When reaching an arm overhead and kicking a leg out, many women flare their ribs and arch their lower back. This makes it harder to activate the lower core and can cause lower back pain.’

‘I love performing weighted taps instead because adding a weight requires you to push up, which helps push those ribs back so you can maintain a better rib and pelvis position, keeping the lower core engaged,’ she adds. ‘It just feels so much better for me and helps many people maintain better core activation to get the most out of the exercise.’

Here, Collins outlines how to perform weighted taps with good technique.

• Push the weight up towards the ceiling
• Shoulder blades come off the floor
• Inhale through the nose with your legs in the air
• Exhale through your mouth to tap one foot down

And a bonus tip? ‘It [can help] to use a towel roll under your back where you feel it is arched more to give your back something to press into during the exercise.’

Common mistakes to avoid when doing the exercise, adds Collins, include:

• Lifting your head off the ground
• Not using a heavy enough weight
• Feeling increased tension in the neck

Maintaining your core strength as you age is crucial to staying strong, active and independent. By improving balance and stability, a strong core – which encompasses your back, abdominals, pelvic floor, diaphragm, hips and glutes – can help prevent falls, improving overall longevity. One recent study found that core training improved balance, plus throwing, hitting and jumping ability.

In other words, by adding regular core exercises – like weighted taps – to your routine, you’re getting a whole lot of bang for your buck.

Having a strong core is about far more than sporting a six-pack. Build functional mid-section strength – while also improving your power, posture, coordination and balance – with WH COLLECTIVE coach Izy George’s 4-week core challenge. Download the Women’s Health UK app to access the full training plan today.

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Hannah Bradfield is a Senior Health and Fitness Writer for Women’s Health UK. An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Hannah graduated from Loughborough University with a BA in English and Sport Science and an MA in Media and Cultural Analysis.  She has been covering sports, health and fitness for the last five years and has created content for outlets including BBC Sport, BBC Sounds, Runner’s World and Stylist. She especially enjoys interviewing those working within the community to improve access to sport, exercise and wellness. Hannah is a 2024 John Schofield Trust Fellow and was also named a 2022 Rising Star in Journalism by The Printing Charity.  A keen runner, Hannah was firmly a sprinter growing up (also dabbling in long jump) but has since transitioned to longer-distance running. While 10K is her favoured race distance, she loves running or volunteering at parkrun every Saturday, followed, of course, by pastries. She’s always looking for fun new runs and races to do and brunch spots to try.