TROLOLOL
Step Ups:
- Work the muscles in a different way than other exercises (variation)
- Progressive resistance on the leg muscles, particularly glute/hams and some quad. Allows for development.
- Creates forceful glute/hamstring contraction at the top of the movement (as opposed to the bottom, such as in squats)
- Promotes neuromuscular benefits when lifting heavy.
- Less muscle soreness due to the nature of the eccentric portion. (greater training capacity?)
- Functional, ever had to carry shit upstairs?
People are too damn closed minded sometimes. Cheers to everyone who made a useful comment and didn’t stay completely dogmatic.
No offense ProfX but I imagine step ups are difficult for a man of your stature and perhaps would be a welcome addition to your program since you have been in the game a long time and need variety.
I know I’m late to this, but I found step-ups helped a lot in increasing my deadlift by helping with the hip drive. I think it was down to better recruitment of my glutes as well as stability work that worked a bunch of other stuff. A good accessory lift.
As for building my legs, step-ups didn’t do much. I made good progress by doing squats and super setting them with lunges, with the addition of sprints pulling sleds etc on other occasions.