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Step-Up illustration, start and end position

Illustrations: Everkinetic (Greg Priday), CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped, resized & combined

Quads

Step-Up

Beginner Dumbbell Compound Quads

How to do it

  1. Set a bench or box at about knee height and hold a dumbbell in each hand.

  2. Plant your whole foot on the box.

  3. Drive through the heel of the top leg until you stand fully upright on the box.

  4. Avoid pushing off the bottom leg, let the working leg do the job.

  5. Lower slowly with the same leg controlling the descent, then repeat.

Common mistakes

  • Bouncing off the bottom leg to get up.

  • Using a box so high the torso folds forward.

  • Dropping back down with no control.

Tips

  • Start with a low box and raise it once your technique is clean.

  • A great fix for left-right leg strength imbalances.

Secondary muscles

Alternatives

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