The Claim
The outer part of your calf and the deeper calf muscle don’t grow better with either straight-knee or bent-knee calf raises — they respond similarly to both.
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.
The outer part of your calf and the deeper calf muscle don’t grow better with either straight-knee or bent-knee calf raises — they respond similarly to both.
See the scientific wording
The lateral gastrocnemius and soleus muscles show no clear preferential hypertrophy response to either straight-leg toe press or seated calf raise exercises in trained young adults after 8 weeks of training, suggesting these regions are less sensitive to knee joint angle variation.
What the research says
1 studyStudy: Exercise Selection Differentially Influences Lower Body Regional Muscle Development
The study found that doing calf exercises with your knee straight or bent didn’t make the outer calf or soleus muscle grow more in either case—so the angle of your knee doesn’t really matter for those muscles.
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.