calf raises
Lower leg exercise
Calf raises are an exercise that strengthens the muscles of the lower leg.
Standing flat-footed, you rise onto your toes, lifting your heels off the ground, then lower back down.
The movement targets the calf muscles—the gastrocnemius and soleus.
Calf raises can be performed on flat ground, on a step for greater range of motion, or with added weight: I do fifty calf raises every morning.
Primary calf muscle
- soleusLower leg flexor
- AchillesGreek hero, mortal heel
- anklesLower leg joints
- tibialisMuscle of the lower leg
heel · tendon · muscle fiber · insertion · origin · stretch · flexibility · mobility
Exercise iteration count
- setsGrouped items together
- formShape or document
- toningStrengthening muscles gradually
- hypertrophyTissue enlargement via cells
muscle · isolation · workout · routine · sculpting · repetition · contraction · extension
Power to exert force
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
- stabilityResistance to displacement
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
- postureBody position, alignment
definition · tone · power · explosiveness · vertical jump · injury prevention · circulation · athleticism
Handheld lifting weights
- barbellWeighted exercise apparatus
- leg pressLower-body resistance machine exercise
- weight platesLoadable barbell discs
- kettlebellsHandled spherical weights
ankle weights · resistance bands · block · lifting belt · foam roller
gastrocnemius
Primary calf muscle
tibialis · heel · tendon · muscle fiber · insertion · origin · stretch · flexibility · mobility · range of motion
reps
Exercise iteration count
hypertrophy · muscle · isolation · workout · routine · sculpting · repetition · contraction · extension · warm-up
strength
Power to exert force
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
- stabilityResistance to displacement
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
posture · definition · tone · power · explosiveness · vertical jump · injury prevention · circulation · athleticism
dumbbells
Handheld lifting weights
- barbellWeighted exercise apparatus
- leg pressLower-body resistance machine exercise
- weight platesLoadable barbell discs
kettlebells · ankle weights · resistance bands · block · lifting belt · foam roller
- leg exercisessquats, lunges, leg press, leg curls, leg extensions
- exercisespush-ups, pull-ups, squats, lunges, cable row
- fitnessfitness, exercise, gym, workout, running
- gentle exercisestretching routine, chair yoga, low-impact exercise, seated exercises, flexibility exercises
- warm-upsjumping jacks, leg swings, arm circles, hip circles, arm swings
- leg fitnesssquats, lunges, quadriceps, quads, hamstrings