High Step - how high to go?

[cks1025]

Hey everyone!
I am ordering the High Step and was wondering how high to go? I have the 12" or is it 14" Rubbermaid Step Stool at home. Should I order enough risers to make it 16" or even 18" or do you think that is too high?

Any advice is welcomed.

Thanks!
Charlene

 

[kathryn]

Depends on what you want to use it for. For sitting on, or using for "sit-and-stand" squats, or for using as a support for your forward hand when doing one-arm lat rows, I like 18". For step-ups, I wouldn't go above 14". Rather than increase the height, I find it helpful to focus on step=up form and on squatting down a bit into the lower position before pushing up through the heel.

 

[cks1025]

Thanks Kathryn - I'll use it for various things so I'll go w/the 18". this way I can get full use out of it. I agree w/you that 18" is too high for the step up. That's too much on the knees!
Thanks again.
Charlene

 

[frances]

I'm so glad this topic came up. I am fairly tall (5'8") with longish legs. For now, I use the rubbermaid step (which is about 13.5") and I never feel like my butt works hard enough. It feels like the work is mostly in my quads. It makes sense that a 14" step would work someone who is 5'2" differently than it would someone 6" taller. The Firm used to sell a 17 or 18" step for advanced or tall exercisers. Did anyone try it? More generally, how do you know you have gone too high?

 

[kathryn]

More generally, how do you know you have gone too high?
>
A general guideline is that your knee should not be at "tighter" than a 90-degree angle at the bottom of the movement. I find that the "squat at the bottom and push through heels" works well for getting the motion into the butt.