Step machine

Hi,

I've heard that going on the step machine every day is bad for your knee joints. is there any truth to that? How often should one go?

Also, has anyone noticed how you sweat on a step-machine compared to any other cardio-exercise?

Well, the knees are pretty much the last place I feel anything on the step machine, but I use the stepmill (the machine that's REALLY tall and the stairs move, almost like an escalator) which I think is a little more different than regular, stationary stepping machines.  I definitely sweat a TON on these babies, but I've seen people not even break a sweat.  It depends on how hard you're going.  I do the fat burner program at about level 13 (out of 20) and it's really difficult, and I work out almost every day!

I have a stationary stepper and I do about an hour a day and I've never sweated so much in my life!! I'm not sure about the knees though , I've read that the threadmill is hardest on the joints.

It doesn't take much to mess up my knees, but the step machine does hurt my knees if I use it to much. If I don't go on everyday then it's fine. I go on once every two days. But it may not hurt you, it's just my knees and feet aren't straight, they face outwards more then usuall.
As far as sweating goes, then yes I realized that the step machine works up a sweat more then some other cardio-exercises.
I hope that helped :)

Original Post by do-not-fall:

It doesn't take much to mess up my knees, but the step machine does hurt my knees if I use it to much. If I don't go on everyday then it's fine. I go on once every two days. But it may not hurt you, it's just my knees and feet aren't straight, they face outwards more then usuall.
As far as sweating goes, then yes I realized that the step machine works up a sweat more then some other cardio-exercises.
I hope that helped :)

Please go see your doctor.  I have a condition in my knees that started this way in my early 20s. As a result, step machines hurt my knees along with deep squats.  Essentially my knee caps are pulled out of alignment by the exterior quads being so strong and the interior much weaker.  It took several years of being aware and stretching and some physical therapy to make them feel better and I still have at least one more complete round of physical therapy to schedule.  This is something you can probably get taken care of in the early stages without too much of a problem.

Original Post by smwhipple:

Original Post by do-not-fall:

It doesn't take much to mess up my knees, but the step machine does hurt my knees if I use it to much. If I don't go on everyday then it's fine. I go on once every two days. But it may not hurt you, it's just my knees and feet aren't straight, they face outwards more then usuall.
As far as sweating goes, then yes I realized that the step machine works up a sweat more then some other cardio-exercises.
I hope that helped :)

Please go see your doctor.  I have a condition in my knees that started this way in my early 20s. As a result, step machines hurt my knees along with deep squats.  Essentially my knee caps are pulled out of alignment by the exterior quads being so strong and the interior much weaker.  It took several years of being aware and stretching and some physical therapy to make them feel better and I still have at least one more complete round of physical therapy to schedule.  This is something you can probably get taken care of in the early stages without too much of a problem.

I have, and the doctor said it might be juvenile arthritis so he sent me in for x-rays and he never gave me back the results. I don't think it is juvenile arthritis though, it's something else for sure. We're STILL waiting and it's been months. He's a really crappy doctor. I still do exercise I just have to stretch for a long lenth of time.

Perhaps it's time to get a second opinion?  Even if you're on a restricted insurance plan, if you call and pester them you can frequently get a referral to a second physician covered.