Lateral Step-up
The lateral step-up targets the muscles of the legs and glutes while improving balance and coordination.
- Stand beside a sturdy step or platform.
- Place one foot on the step, ensuring your entire foot is on the surface.
- Push through your heel to lift your body up onto the step.
- Lower yourself back down to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions before switching sides.
How to perform the Lateral Step-up
- Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Lateral Step-up using your body weight.
- Brace and execute. Brace your core, control the descent, and move through a full pain-free range of motion while emphasizing your calves.
- Reset. Reverse the movement under control and reset between repetitions, keeping your form crisp on every rep.
Coaching cues
- Move with intent — every rep should feel deliberate, not rushed.
- Drive force through your calves rather than momentum.
- Keep your breathing steady: exhale on the hard part, inhale on the reset.
Common mistakes
- Using too much weight and losing positional control.
- Cutting the range of motion short and missing the target muscle.
- Letting your spine round or hyperextend instead of staying neutral.
Detailed cues, common mistakes, and demonstration video are available in the Fitly app.
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View staged routine (0)Variations of Lateral Step-up
Barbell Bench Lateral Step-up
The Barbell Bench Lateral Step-up targets your legs and improves stability.Stand beside a bench with a barbell restin…
Cable Lateral Step-up
Perform a cable lateral step-up to strengthen your lower body and improve balance.Attach a cable to a low pulley and …
Dumbbell Lateral Step-Up
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Lateral Step-up with Knee Drive
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Smith Lateral Step-Up
The Smith Lateral Step-Up targets the lower body, focusing on the glutes, quadriceps, and hamstrings. This exercise i…
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