How to Do Weighted Step-Ups: Proper Form, Variations, and Common Mistakes
The weighted step-up exercise is excellent for the lower body and adding dumbbells increases the load on the muscles worked. It can be modified to provide a safe and effective workout for people of all fitness levels, fitting into most any exercise routine designed to boost strength in the upper leg and glutes.
Targets: Quadriceps and posterior chain (glutes, hamstrings)
Equipment Needed: Dumbbells, step or plyo box
Level: Intermediate
Also Known As: Box step-up, dumbbell step-up, barbell step-up
How to Do the Weighted Step-Up Exercise
Stand with a step, plyo box, or a top-quality weightlifting bench directly in front of you. Hold a set of dumbbells in your hands at shoulder height.
- Step up with the right foot, pressing through the heel to straighten your right leg.
- Bring the left foot to meet your right foot on top of the step.
- Bend your right knee and step back down with the left foot.
- Bring the right foot down to meet the left foot on the ground.
Benefits of the Weighted Step-Up Exercise
The weighted step-up exercise is excellent for building strength in the quadriceps (front of the thigh). Building the quads helps protect the knee and step-ups, when performed correctly, create minimal knee stress.
Your quads get little use when running or walking on level terrain, so you may need to exercise them to keep them in balance if those are your main cardio activities. Step-ups also involve the posterior chain (glutes and hamstrings), important for climbing stairs, making this exercise functional.
The lower the step, the more the quadriceps are worked; the higher the step, the more the hamstrings and glutes are worked. Beginners should start with a very low step (6 to 8 inches) until the movement is perfected.
This exercise improves balance, stabilization, and proprioception because you are required to control the weight as you move up and down, forward and back. Another bonus is that it strengthens the legs individually, building equal strength in each one.
Step-ups can be done almost anywhere since the only equipment needed is a step, box, or bench and some weights. It is a great alternative to other low body exercises such as plyometric jumping because it is easier to do and lower impact.
Other Variations of a Weighted Step-Up
The weighted step-up can be modified to fit your fitness level and goals.
Unweighted Step-Up
Beginners should start with an unweighted step-up. Follow the same instructions, but instead of holding hand weights, keep your arms loosely at your sides. This movement is sometimes used in knee rehabilitation programs.
Barbell Step-Up
You can do a step-up with a barbell if you like. To do it, rest the barbell on your shoulders behind your head and neck. You may find that you can use a heavier weight for this step-up variation because the weight is supported by your entire lower body versus only being supported by your arms.
Explosive Step-Up
A dynamic or explosive step-up can help you increase your power. To do it, start with one foot on the step and, as you step up, propel yourself straight up off the step. Then land softly with both feet on the step before stepping down. Alternate which foot you lead with for repetitions.
As you increase your strength and improve your technique, you can begin adding weight to the dynamic step up. Be sure to use smaller steps, lower jumps, and always land softly.
If your goal is to gain strength, lift more weight, go slower, and perform fewer reps (eight to 12 reps per set).
To build explosive power or increase cardiovascular fitness, use less weight, go faster, and perform more repetitions (such as 20 to 25 per set).
Common Mistakes
To get the most from this exercise and lower the risk of injury, avoid these errors.
Knee Passing Toes
Protect the knee of your active leg by not pushing it past your toes when you step up. Pushing the knee far forward changes the muscles used and places more stress on the knee joint.
Knee Out of Alignment
The knee on your active leg should track over your second and third toes. Avoid letting it collapse in or out.
Pushing Up With Lower Leg
The work should come from the leading leg, basically bringing the trailing leg up as dead weight. Pushing up with the lower leg reduces the load on the leading leg.
Rounding the Back
You may need to lean forward slightly to avoid stressing your knee joint. As you do, hold your torso as straight and upright as possible, keeping your chest up rather than rounding your back.
Safety and Precautions
Talk to your doctor or physical therapist if you have had an injury or condition involving your knees, ankle, or hips to see if this exercise is appropriate for you. You will feel your muscles working during this exercise, but stop if you feel any pain in these areas.
When first starting this exercise, do an unweighted version with a step that is lower to the ground. The speed of the step-up movement is largely dependent upon your goals and the type of training you are doing.
You can get a great cardio workout by doing step-ups with no or light weights, moving faster, and performing many reps per set. As you add weight, you will probably slow down the movement (due to both safety and difficulty). Anyone who works out with weights should wear a pair of trainer-recommended weightlifting shoes.
Try It Out
Incorporate this move into one of these popular workouts.
Jakobsen TL, Jakobsen MD, Andersen LL, Husted H, Kehlet H, Bandholm T. Quadriceps muscle activity during commonly used strength training exercises shortly after total knee arthroplasty: implications for home-based exercise-selection. J Exp Orthop. 2019;6:29. doi:10.1186/s40634-019-0193-5
Pinedo-Jauregi A, Quinn T, Coca A, Mejuto G, Cámara J. Physiological stress in flat and uphill walking with different backpack loads in professional mountain rescue crews. Applied Ergonomics. 2022;103:103784. doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2022.103784
Chae SH, Kim YL, Lee SM. Effects of phase proprioceptive training on balance in patients with chronic stroke. J Phys Ther Sci. 2017;29(5):839–844. doi:10.1589/jpts.29.839
Peitz M, Behringer M, Granacher U. A systematic review on the effects of resistance and plyometric training on physical fitness in youth- What do comparative studies tell us?. PLoS One. 2018;13(10):e0205525. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0205525
Read PJ, Turner AN, Clarke R, Applebee S, Hughes J. Knee angle affects posterior chain muscle activation during an isometric test used in soccer players. Sports (Basel). 2019;7(1):13. doi:10.3390/sports7010013