Peterson Step Ups

Knee
Written By David Song

PETERSON STEP UPS

The Peterson Step Up exercise is used to increase terminal knee extension strength and function. Start by stepping onto a stepper, stair step, or weight plate to elevate one leg off the floor. Then go up on your toes with the elevated foot and proceed to raise your body up by extending the knee. Once at the top of the movement you may lower the heel to rest it. Raise the heel back up before lowering the hovering leg back to the floor. Isolate the movement to the elevated leg by not pushing off of the floor with the lowered foot. To really challenge the knee extensors, raise your body up without using momentum as well.

Muscles Involved:

  • Quadriceps

    • Vastus Medialis Oblique

Related Conditions:

  • Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

  • Medial Collateral Ligament Sprain (MCL)

  • Meniscus Tear

  • Post-Surgical Knee Pain

  • Patellar Tendinitis / Patellar Tendinopathy

  • Quadriceps Tendinitis / Quadriceps Tendinopathy

  • Runner’s Knee / Jumper’s Knee

  • Osgood Schlatter’s Disease

Related Exercises

Featured
Dumbbell Front Kick
Hip Flexion, Hip Flexor, Hip Flexor Strengthening, Hip Flexors, Hip, Knee Extension, Knee Extensor, Knee, Knee Strengthening, Psoas Major, Iliopsoas, Iliacus, Rectus Femoris, Dumbbell Foot Strap
Dumbbell Front Kick
Hip Flexion, Hip Flexor, Hip Flexor Strengthening, Hip Flexors, Hip, Knee Extension, Knee Extensor, Knee, Knee Strengthening, Psoas Major, Iliopsoas, Iliacus, Rectus Femoris, Dumbbell Foot Strap
Hip Flexion, Hip Flexor, Hip Flexor Strengthening, Hip Flexors, Hip, Knee Extension, Knee Extensor, Knee, Knee Strengthening, Psoas Major, Iliopsoas, Iliacus, Rectus Femoris, Dumbbell Foot Strap
Standing Dumbbell Hamstring Curl
Knee, Knee Flexion, Knee Flexor, Hamstring Strengthening, Hamstrings, Semimembranosus, Semitendinosus, Biceps Femoris, Dumbbell Foot Strap
Standing Dumbbell Hamstring Curl
Knee, Knee Flexion, Knee Flexor, Hamstring Strengthening, Hamstrings, Semimembranosus, Semitendinosus, Biceps Femoris, Dumbbell Foot Strap
Knee, Knee Flexion, Knee Flexor, Hamstring Strengthening, Hamstrings, Semimembranosus, Semitendinosus, Biceps Femoris, Dumbbell Foot Strap
Supine Dumbbell Leg Extension
Knee, Knee Extension, Knee Extensor, Knee Strengthening, Quadriceps, Quadriceps Femoris, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis, Rectus Femoris, Patellar Tendon, Quadriceps Tendon, Dumbbell Foot Strap
Supine Dumbbell Leg Extension
Knee, Knee Extension, Knee Extensor, Knee Strengthening, Quadriceps, Quadriceps Femoris, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis, Rectus Femoris, Patellar Tendon, Quadriceps Tendon, Dumbbell Foot Strap
Knee, Knee Extension, Knee Extensor, Knee Strengthening, Quadriceps, Quadriceps Femoris, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis, Rectus Femoris, Patellar Tendon, Quadriceps Tendon, Dumbbell Foot Strap
Dumbbell Prone Hamstring Curl
Knee, Knee Flexor, Knee Flexion, Knee Strengthening, Hamstring Strengthening, Hamstrings, Semimembranosus, Semitendinosus, Biceps Femoris, Dumbbell Foot Strap
Dumbbell Prone Hamstring Curl
Knee, Knee Flexor, Knee Flexion, Knee Strengthening, Hamstring Strengthening, Hamstrings, Semimembranosus, Semitendinosus, Biceps Femoris, Dumbbell Foot Strap
Knee, Knee Flexor, Knee Flexion, Knee Strengthening, Hamstring Strengthening, Hamstrings, Semimembranosus, Semitendinosus, Biceps Femoris, Dumbbell Foot Strap
Assisted Split Squat
Knee, Knee Extension, Knee Extensor, Knee Strengthening, Quads, Quadriceps Femoris, Quadriceps, Quadriceps Strengthening, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis, Rectus Femoris
Assisted Split Squat
Knee, Knee Extension, Knee Extensor, Knee Strengthening, Quads, Quadriceps Femoris, Quadriceps, Quadriceps Strengthening, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis, Rectus Femoris
Knee, Knee Extension, Knee Extensor, Knee Strengthening, Quads, Quadriceps Femoris, Quadriceps, Quadriceps Strengthening, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis, Rectus Femoris
Assisted Lunge
Knee, Knee Extension, Knee Extensor, Knee Strengthening, Quadriceps, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis, Rectus Femoris, Gluteus Maximus, Hip, Hip Extension, Hip Extensor
Assisted Lunge
Knee, Knee Extension, Knee Extensor, Knee Strengthening, Quadriceps, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis, Rectus Femoris, Gluteus Maximus, Hip, Hip Extension, Hip Extensor
Knee, Knee Extension, Knee Extensor, Knee Strengthening, Quadriceps, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis, Rectus Femoris, Gluteus Maximus, Hip, Hip Extension, Hip Extensor
Assisted Static Side Lunge
Lunge, Knee, Knee Extension, Knee Extensor, Knee Stability, Knee Strengthening, Hip, Hip Extension, Hip Extensor, Hip Stability, Hip Strengthening, Hip Abduction, Hip Abductor, Quadriceps, Quadriceps Strengthening, Quadriceps Femoris, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis, Gluteus Maximus, Gluteus Medius
Assisted Static Side Lunge
Lunge, Knee, Knee Extension, Knee Extensor, Knee Stability, Knee Strengthening, Hip, Hip Extension, Hip Extensor, Hip Stability, Hip Strengthening, Hip Abduction, Hip Abductor, Quadriceps, Quadriceps Strengthening, Quadriceps Femoris, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis, Gluteus Maximus, Gluteus Medius
Lunge, Knee, Knee Extension, Knee Extensor, Knee Stability, Knee Strengthening, Hip, Hip Extension, Hip Extensor, Hip Stability, Hip Strengthening, Hip Abduction, Hip Abductor, Quadriceps, Quadriceps Strengthening, Quadriceps Femoris, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis, Gluteus Maximus, Gluteus Medius
Banded Reverse Nordic Curl
Quadriceps, Quadriceps Femoris, Quadriceps Strengthening, Quadriceps Tendon, Patellar Tendon, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis, Vastus Medialis Oblique, Knee Strengthening, Knee, Knee Extension, Knee Extensor
Banded Reverse Nordic Curl
Quadriceps, Quadriceps Femoris, Quadriceps Strengthening, Quadriceps Tendon, Patellar Tendon, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis, Vastus Medialis Oblique, Knee Strengthening, Knee, Knee Extension, Knee Extensor
Quadriceps, Quadriceps Femoris, Quadriceps Strengthening, Quadriceps Tendon, Patellar Tendon, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis, Vastus Medialis Oblique, Knee Strengthening, Knee, Knee Extension, Knee Extensor
Banded Reclining Hero Pose
Superficial Fascial Front Line, Rectus Abdominus, Rectus Femoris, Iliopsoas, Psoas Major, Iliacus, Quads, Quadriceps, Quadriceps Femoris, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis, Vastus Medialis Oblique, Knee Flexion, Knee Extensor, Knee Stretch, Quadriceps Stretch, Knee, Knee Flexibility
Banded Reclining Hero Pose
Superficial Fascial Front Line, Rectus Abdominus, Rectus Femoris, Iliopsoas, Psoas Major, Iliacus, Quads, Quadriceps, Quadriceps Femoris, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis, Vastus Medialis Oblique, Knee Flexion, Knee Extensor, Knee Stretch, Quadriceps Stretch, Knee, Knee Flexibility
Superficial Fascial Front Line, Rectus Abdominus, Rectus Femoris, Iliopsoas, Psoas Major, Iliacus, Quads, Quadriceps, Quadriceps Femoris, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis, Vastus Medialis Oblique, Knee Flexion, Knee Extensor, Knee Stretch, Quadriceps Stretch, Knee, Knee Flexibility
Single Leg Reclining Hero Pose
Superficial Fascial Front Line, Rectus Abdominus, Iliopsoas, Psoas Major, Iliacus, Rectus Femoris, Quadriceps, Quadriceps Stretch, Quads, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis, Vastus Medialis Oblique, Knee Flexibility, Knee Flexion, Knee, Knee Extensor
Single Leg Reclining Hero Pose
Superficial Fascial Front Line, Rectus Abdominus, Iliopsoas, Psoas Major, Iliacus, Rectus Femoris, Quadriceps, Quadriceps Stretch, Quads, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis, Vastus Medialis Oblique, Knee Flexibility, Knee Flexion, Knee, Knee Extensor
Superficial Fascial Front Line, Rectus Abdominus, Iliopsoas, Psoas Major, Iliacus, Rectus Femoris, Quadriceps, Quadriceps Stretch, Quads, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis, Vastus Medialis Oblique, Knee Flexibility, Knee Flexion, Knee, Knee Extensor
David Song
Previous

Knee Extensions
Next

Low Back Twist