Move · Videos · Technique · 17 min
10 Standing Core Exercises, From Easy to Hard (No Floor Work)
Video by Dr. Dave Candy - Physical Therapist on YouTube · Open on YouTube
A physical therapist turns floor core moves into standing ones for older adults and anyone who finds the floor hard, building up step by step: standing pelvic tilt, bridge and bird dog, then one-hand and overhead carries, deadlifts, single-leg deadlifts, loaded squats and an overhead lunge.
- 17 min
- All levels
- Low impact (no jumping)
- dumbbells
Good forHealthy ageing
Step by step 10
Tap a time to watch that step in the video.
- Standing pelvic tilt: roll the pelvis under to flatten the low back, and keep using it whenever you stand. 1:10
- Standing bridge: knees a little forward, pelvis tilted, push the hips forward without arching; hold 10 seconds. 3:00
- Standing bird dog: lean forward, reach one arm out and lift the opposite leg behind, holding a chair if needed. 5:45
- One-hand carry: walk holding one fairly heavy dumbbell so your side trunk muscles keep you upright; swap hands. 7:11
- Overhead carry: walk holding one lighter dumbbell overhead, then come back with the other arm. 9:21
- Deadlift: weights close to your legs, push the hips back and forward with a neutral spine, 10 to 15 reps. 9:58
- Single-leg deadlift with one dumbbell, holding a wall or rod at first if needed, about 10 on each leg. 11:42
- Squat holding dumbbells, or one at your chest: feet about shoulder-width, sit the hips back, weight in the heels. 12:56
- Overhead squat: arms up, perhaps with just a broomstick, and only as deep as feels comfortable. 14:22
- Single-arm overhead lunge: hold one weight overhead and lunge only as deep as feels safe; the hardest of the ten. 15:15
The steps are a summary in our words, checked against the video — the coach shows every move.
Form cues from the coach
- Carry one dumbbell, not two, so your side trunk muscles work to keep you upright
- Keep the weights close to your legs and push your hips back and forward in the deadlift
- Pick two or three moves per session and hold a chair or wall if your balance is unsure
What it works
Tap an area for more videos that work it.
Joints it uses 4 takes load
- Shoulders takes loadoverhead carry, overhead squat and lunge
- Lower back takes loaddumbbell deadlifts, single-leg deadlifts
- Hips takes loaddeadlifts, single-leg deadlifts, squats, lunges
- Knees takes loadweighted squats, overhead lunge
- Wrists & hands movesholding dumbbells in carries and lifts
- Ankles & feet movesstanding bridge on the toes, carries
- Standing on one leg. Keep a chair or a wall within reach.
Easier option from the coach: Hold a chair, wall or counter for the balance moves; squat only as deep as comfortable
A guide to the joints this video’s moves load, from what the coach does — not medical advice. Some ache is normal; stop if a joint hurts sharply. How joints are rated
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Video by Dr. Dave Candy - Physical Therapist; the summary, steps, cues, body areas and joint notes are Notbroken’s, written from what the coach actually does in the video and checked a second time. Warm up first, take the easier options until a move feels easy, and stop if you feel sharp pain, chest pain or dizziness. General instruction, not advice for your body. About & safety