Lunges are a great exercise to improve lower-body strength, stability and balance. Since they’re a unilateral move—meaning that they’re done one side at a time—they can address muscle imbalances and strength discrepancies while promoting better overall coordination and endurance. Lunges can also work the core, which has to work to keep the body stable and balanced over a single leg. Unfortunately, lunges can be difficult to do if you’ve got knee issues, joint pain, or restricted mobility. I work with plenty of personal training clients that fall into those categories, so I’ll often swap lunges for step-ups instead. Latest Videos From You may like Step-ups can be modified for most fitness or ability levels, progressed as you get stronger, and don’t require any equipment besides a step. If you’ve been looking for a lunge alternative, give them a try. Why are step-ups a good alternative to lunges? Like lunges, step-ups target each leg independently from the other. It’s common to have a “good” or “stronger” side, but this can often lead to faulty movement patterns, …