Turning your feet outward while doing calf raises actually works the inner part of your calf muscle more than keeping your feet straight or turned in. This means if you want to specifically build up the inside of your calves, adjusting your foot angle during exercises could help.

Our current analysis shows that turning your feet inward during calf raises leans toward targeting the outer part of your calf muscle more than keeping them straight or turned out. What we have found so far points to a clear pattern in the available research. We reviewed two specific assertions that address foot positioning during this exercise. The evidence we have reviewed leans toward the idea that adjusting your stance can shift the focus of the movement. When you turn your feet inward, the evidence suggests you can deliberately work the outside of your lower leg [2]. Conversely, turning your feet outward appears to shift the focus toward the inner part of the calf [1]. Across our review, 52 studies support, 0 studies refute these positioning effects. We want to be clear that this is a partial view that improves over time. Our analysis is based on the evidence we have gathered so far, and the full picture may shift as new research becomes available. We do not claim this is a final answer, but rather a snapshot of what the current data suggests. The evidence we have reviewed leans toward using foot angle as a simple way to change which part of the calf muscle feels the most work. If you want to focus your calf raises on the outside of your lower leg, try turning your toes slightly inward while you lift your heels. Keep your movements slow and controlled to feel the difference in muscle engagement. You can adjust your stance gradually to see how it changes the sensation in your calves.