Doubts about step aerobics

"Ivan" wrote in message

> Recently, I heard that practicing step aerobics on an everyday basis
> might cause knee injury. I know some people who have had knee surgery
> and they insist it is due to an innapropriate aerobics routine that
> includes a lot of step aerobics. Can anyone provide information on
> this matter or perhaps someone knows a web site where I can find more
> information about the pros and cons of step aerobics?
>
> Regards
>
> Ivan

Gim Miller, on of the founders for Step Aerobics used step ups on a bench as
rehab for her knee. That's when she thought that step ups would make a
killer workout. Hence, she started to think up step paterns.
 >> Stay informed about: Doubts about step aerobics 

"Scott Eiler" wrote in message

> As a recently-trained aerobics instructor, I can say that step vs. floor
> aerobics is not the problem; high-impact vs. low-impact is. High-impact
> aerobics (that is, anything that involves jumping maneuvers) are more
> likely to cause knee injury than low-impact aerobics are. My physician
> agrees.
>
> In this, step vs. floor aerobics is not a factor. Step aerobics and floor
> aerobics are equally likely to include jumping. Step aerobics have been
> calculated (by professionals more influential than you or I) to give you
> the same fitness benefit as floor aerobics, only at a slower beat.
>
> I say, step is actually safer than floor, because floor aerobics go
> faster, so any bad effect from aerobics is made worse. Besides, step
> aerobics include some resistance training (just from stepping up), and in
> my personal experience, this aids in recovery from knee injury.
>

Personally, I've irritated my bad knee while doing Step on various occasion,
but never while doing Turbo Kickboxing -- and my usual TKB instructors add
in a LOT of jumping.

The first time I hurt myself with step was largely my own fault. I thought
the instructor was going way too fast -- she had the music tempo up so high
it sounded like Alvin and the Chipmunks -- and sure enough, on one hop-turn
I felt that knee twist. Then came that landing, and, I felt that pain just
shoot right up that knee. It's never been the same, and the problem recurs
now and then while I'm doing step.

One thing could have prevented the injury -- using common sense. I knew that
the instructor -- who, incidentally, isn't instructing anymore as far as I
know -- was going too fast to allow me to do the moves properly, but I kept
going, probably to prove to myself that I could handle anything. Now I try
to use better judgment, and if something the instructor is doing doesn't
seem safe, I either substitute another move or just leave the class. I'm
especially conscientious about the hop-turns, making sure might feet are
landing where they're supposed to. Personally, I prefer TKB because I've
never hurt myself doing it.

Moral: If you do step aerobics, use your head.
 >> Stay informed about: Doubts about step aerobics