The Claim
Performing heel-raise exercises with an internally rotated foot position directly increases electromyographic activation in the lateral gastrocnemius relative to the medial gastrocnemius during concentric and eccentric muscle contractions, demonstrating that modifying foot supination mechanics alters specific calf muscle recruitment patterns during resistance training.
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.
Turning your feet inward while doing calf raises makes the outer part of your calf work harder than the inner part. This shows that changing how you position your feet can specifically target different calf muscles during workouts.
See the scientific wording
Performing heel-raise exercises with an internally rotated foot position elicits significantly greater electromyographic activation in the lateral gastrocnemius compared to the medial gastrocnemius during both the concentric and eccentric phases of the movement, indicating that altering foot supination mechanics directly influences specific calf muscle recruitment patterns during resistance training protocols and provides objective evidence for exercise selection.
What the research says
1 studyThe study confirms that turning your feet inward while doing calf raises specifically targets the outer part of your calf muscle more than the inner part during both lifting and lowering phases.
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.