Step Height

My step is 10". My husband built it for me and man is it sturdy!!!:eek: It's made of solid oak and I have a rubber anti-fatigue mat on top. I've been using it for about 6 years now. I recently asked him to get me a 4" riser so I'll have a 14" step for the new series.
 
Wow! I'm impressed and jealous! My step has been on the 8" height for a while now. Do you worry that the 14" step might hurt your knees?
 
Yes, I mean the actual step height for step aerobics, not step-ups. I have been using a step made by Weider that is adjustable and I've always kept it on the highest level and never measured it until recently to see at what height I've been stepping.....its is about 11.5 inches high. I've been using it at this level for some time now and realize this may not be good for my knees. Howevert I hate to lower it because I don't think my workout would be as intense now that I've been using it that high for such a long time.
 
You know, I've been wondering the same things too. I do step on a 10" step, it's small, but I'm budgeting for a nice big step in a few months, and I'm wondering should I buy the extra risers and keep stepping at 10"? I've never done step on anything lower, so I'm not sure how it would feel. I also wonder how long my joints can take that kind of stress. I don't want to lose intensity, either. I suppose you could compensate by making more of the moves lifted and really putting in some height on the moves.

Ok - let's hope we get some good input from the educated crowd on this one.
 
I don't mean to use the 14" for the aerobic part! Only for the leg work and stuff. No, my legs get tired enough using just the 10" for aerobics. I have wondered about hurting my knees and the stress I put them under but so far they've stayed strong! Susan
 
I really think it is all in how tall you are. I am 6ft and I need a tall step to get a workout. my legs are long and to work the whole intire muscle I need to step a little higher. I think you need to push yourself too. I would never go back down in height if you have been confortible at 10 stay at 10in. If your body is telling you it is to high. (like knee problems) I would definetly take it down an inch or two. good luck
brebre
 
I agree with brebre:) I know that recently I was having knee and achilles problems. I recently took the step down to only 1 riser and also bought a new pair of shoes and the problems are going away:) :-jumpy

I have the reebok step and am only 5'2.5" tall. I was using 2 risers and have taken it down to 1. I can feel the intensity go down a bit but I think I just need to focus on jumping more etc. to keep it up:)

I am actually having more fun because I can get more into the moves and my form and not worry about if I am going to trip over the step or not. I think once I get use to it, it will be better. It is definitely the best thing for my bod to ensure I can continue to work out without injury! I would much rather take it down a bit and not damage my knee or achilles versus keep it up and end up not being able to do Cathe for any extended time :(

I think the knee problem was definitely from the higher step and the achilles was a little of both the high step and the shoes.

I think I might pick like 1 or 2 days a week to do a higher step just to make sure I am getting the intensity I need??


Pammer http://www.click-smilie.de/sammlung/sport/sport001.gif
 
I use only a 6 inch step for aerobics and my old 14 inch firm box for the step ups. I hurt my knee last summer and the physical therapist was appalled when I told him I used a 10 inch step (I was doing the firm then). He told me stepping was very hard on the knees and to only use a 4 inch step. I didn't feel like I was working on 4 inches so I upped it to 6. Maybe I'm a whimp but 6 inches with Cathe is enough intensity for me! I've tried doing 8, but my knees really felt it later. 6 is perfect! Hope this helped.
Jen
 
I use a 6 inch step for aerobics but I have done Rhythmic Step and Power Max on an 8 inch step. I am 5'4.5" tall so I'm mid height. It's slightly more intense for me on a taller step, but it's also trickier to keep from tripping, IMO.

I hope I feel like using a higher step more often but so far I think I'm geeting a fine whoopin' at 6 inches.
 
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