Straight-Leg Calf Raises

BEING VIEWED NOW

An ability to build thick layers of lean muscle indefinitely is one trait no bodybuilder will ever possess, despite any ...

The Young and The Restless: Weight Training for Special Populations

Is it true that resistance training stunts growth in adolescents? And can lifting really reverse the ageing process in older ...

The line between success and failure come showtime is notoriously small. As many competitors will tell you, the final 7 ...

Looking for lazer focus and unabated energy during tough workouts? Tyrosine could be the superamino you need to swoop in ...

Protein 101 Those of you following any of my programs and / or striving to be a top bodybuilder or ...

Part 2 of good cop versus bad cop in the fat loss hunger wars - this time we’ll focus on ...

place the ball of the foot in contact with the pad / platform / ground
medium stance unless stated otherwise (hips, knees and ankles inline)
keep knees stable throughout (when standing, lock out quads and contract the glutes)
ensure full ankle flexion and extension (not foot)
only come up from the bottom when the tibialis anterior at the front contracts
focus on driving the weight through the big toe (not via the outsides of the feet)
when you think you’re up all the way, go a little further (max height); aim for a huge peak contraction and really fight for those inches – bring the heels up as high as physically possible
consciously think about pulling the knees / ankles together throughout (‘intent’).

Alternative Foot Positions:
   > 1. Wide stance: feet outside of shoulders, about 18” apart
   > 2. Narrow stance: bring knees / inner thighs together
   > 3. Toes In: 45º internal rotation
   > 4. Toes Out: 45º external rotation.
Optional variation: bend knees ‘slightly’ on the way down (though keep them rigid), extend the quads and lock them out on the way up (this works both heads of the calf).

lean forward a little from the hips (not the spine) keeping the chest up
ensure the weight is placed over the tailbone / directly over the ankles; centre of gravity should stay over the toes
push weight away with butt
no bend or extension of knees, try to almost lock them out
just briefly tap heels to the floor at the bottom before immediately performing the ascent.

sit proud, torso to leg angle should equal 90º
push hamstrings into pad to lock-out quads
Alternative Foot Positions:
> 1. Wide stance: as wide as possible on platform
> 2. Narrow stance: bring knees / inner thighs together.

Great exercise for learning how to ‘feel’ & contract the muscle