The Claim
Targeted calf resistance training performed over a nine-week period causes a significant increase in the muscle thickness of the medial and lateral heads of the gastrocnemius muscle in young men, with the magnitude of hypertrophy directly modulated by foot alignment during the exercise.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
Doing specific calf exercises for nine weeks can make the calf muscles bigger, but exactly how much they grow depends on how you position your feet during the workout. This shows that small changes in your exercise form can target different parts of the muscle differently.
See the scientific wording
Targeted calf resistance training over a nine-week period significantly increases muscle thickness in both the medial and lateral heads of the gastrocnemius muscle in young men, with the specific magnitude of hypertrophy being modulated by the alignment of the foot during the exercise, demonstrating that exercise variation can influence region-specific muscle growth.
What the research says
1 studyThe study shows that doing calf exercises for nine weeks builds muscle in young men, and changing how you point your feet can target either the inner or outer part of the calf muscle differently.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.