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Standing calf raise

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Muscles worked

High load
Calves · Gastrocnemius

Primary muscles

How to do it

Stand with the balls of the feet on the platform and the shoulders under the pads, knees straight but not locked. Drop the heels for a full stretch at the bottom, then rise as high as you can onto the toes and pause for a second at the top. Move slowly through both ends of the range — bouncing out of the bottom stretch is how Achilles tendons get irritated.

Form cues

  • Full stretch at the bottom
  • Pause one second at the top

Safety

Talk to a professional before this exercise if you have any of the following:

Ankle

This is general exercise reference, not medical advice. Stop and consult a qualified professional if an exercise causes pain, and never work through joint pain.