Wiki/Exercises/Standing Calf Raise

Standing Calf Raise

legsmachine
Anatomical illustration of the four heads of the quadriceps femoris
Anatomical illustration of the four heads of the quadriceps femoris. Illustration by Didier-CTP, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Primary muscle

legs

Equipment

machine

How to perform

Stand with the balls of your feet on the platform edge and your heels hanging free. Lower your heels as far as comfortable to get a full stretch. Press up onto your toes as high as you can and pause briefly at the top. Lower slowly. Calves respond poorly to bouncing. Standing works the gastrocnemius. Seated calf raises target the soleus, and both are worth doing. Common mistakes: bouncing through a tiny range of motion, and rushing the lowering phase.

Standing Calf Raise | Effective Fitness