High Stepper Height

[dogs2birds]

I'm sorry if this has been answered before, but I did a search and couldn't find it. What height do most of you use on the high stepper? I'm 5' 8.5" and wonder if I should be going much higher than 14"? I figure if Cathe is doing it on 14" I should be doing it on 18"!!! Okay, well, maybe 16". I don't want to trash my knees, but I do want to make sure I get the most bang for my workout buck!

Thanks!

Susan

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France

http://www.picturetrail.com/dogs2birds

 

[wendybdh]

I'm 5' 10" and I usually use 14". I think the "rule of thumb" is that when one foot is on the high step, your thigh should be parallel to the floor. Hope that makes sense and hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Armywife]

I'm 5'2" and I use a 14" since I am used to using that from doing the Firm. But on Muscle Endurance Cathe uses 16" so I use 16" in that one. I don't know if you should go up since you are much taller but that is what I use.

Toni

 

[kathryn]

I don't go higher than 14" (I'm 5' 6"). As a general rule, don't go any higher than having your leg at a 90-degree angle, a little more 'open' angle than that is even bettter, then dip down at the bottom of the move to engage the glutes more, rather than putting so much load on a bent knee).

I vary between 14" , 12" and 10" (in the HSTA workout, there are sooo many leg presses, I vary them a lot to avoid doing the same move through the exact same plane of movement and ROM: I do 14" with no weights, 12" with light weights or off the sides, 10" with heavier weights).

I highly recommend starting lower, and working your way up if you are having no problems. Starting out too high doesn't give the muscles around the knee time to adapt to the move before putting what might be too much stress on the area, IMO.

 

[dogs2birds]

I have done the Firm for years and am used to stepping up on a 14" box a lot. I've never really had any knee trouble, just a teensy bit lately - very, very minor. But I don't want to make it worse. Hmmm...I'll have to think logically about this one for a bit.

Thanks to everyone!

Susan

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France

http://www.picturetrail.com/dogs2birds