Exercise Guide

Banded Dead Bug

A dead bug while pressing a band overhead. The band pulls your ribs up, so the abs have to work harder to keep the back flat.

BeginnerStrengthStaticIsolation
Form
Banded Dead Bug - Start position
Start
Banded Dead Bug - Mid position
Mid
Banded Dead Bug - End position
End

Illustrations by Bryl Lim for Workout Guide, after Everkinetic. Used unchanged under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Details

Primary Muscle

Core

Equipment

Bands

Difficulty

Beginner

Category

Strength

Force

Static

Mechanic

Isolation

Secondary Muscles

GlutesShoulders
How to Perform
  1. 1

    Anchor a band behind your head and lie on your back holding the end with both hands, arms straight up.

  2. 2

    Lift your knees to 90 degrees and press your lower back into the floor.

  3. 3

    Extend one leg out straight while keeping the band tension and your back flat.

  4. 4

    Return the leg and repeat with the other side.

Tips
  • The instant your lower back lifts off the floor, shorten the leg extension.
  • Breathe out as the leg extends - holding your breath hides a loss of position.
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