Step-Ups
Builds strength for stairs and daily activity.
What it helps
Builds the leg and hip strength — and the control — for stairs, curbs, and everyday activity.
How to do it
- Step up onto a low step with your operative leg.
- Step back down with control.
Tips
- Hold a rail for balance.
- Going up stairs one foot at a time, holding the rail, is this exercise at this stage. If that is how you manage stairs at home, you are already doing it.
Commonly done as 2-3 sets of 10, once or twice a day.
Where this appears in recovery
Step-Ups is part of 92 recovery programs, most often at the strength building (months 2–5), strength & function (weeks 6–12) and advanced recovery (months 3–6) stages, among others. Each program shows how it fits alongside the other movements:
- ACL Revision Reconstruction exercise guide
- Tarsal Tunnel Release exercise guide
- Distal Fibula Fracture ORIF exercise guide
- Spinal Cord Stimulator Implant exercise guide
- Knee Arthroscopy (Diagnostic / Debridement) exercise guide
- Kyphoplasty exercise guide
- Knee Arthroscopy with Partial Meniscectomy exercise guide
- Achilles Tendon Lengthening exercise guide
- Lapidus Bunionectomy exercise guide
- PCL Reconstruction exercise guide
- Achilles Tendon Repair exercise guide
- Subtalar Fusion exercise guide
- …and 80 more
All exercise guides · Condition guides · Recovery education
These are general exercise guides, not a personal prescription. The repetitions and frequency shown are what's commonly used — your own surgeon or therapist may advise something different, and their guidance comes first.