How Foot Position Changes Calf Muscle Work
Gastrocnemius muscle activation during plantar flexion with different feet positioning in physically active young men
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Practical Takeaways
Adjust your foot angle during calf raises to target specific calf heads: point outward for the inner calf, inward for the outer calf.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Practical Takeaways
Adjust your foot angle during calf raises to target specific calf heads: point outward for the inner calf, inward for the outer calf.
Publication
Journal
Isokinetics and Exercise Science
Year
2017
Authors
A. J. Marcori, Túlio B. M. A. Moura, V. H. Okazaki
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Claims (3)
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.
Turning your feet inward while doing calf raises targets the outer part of your calf muscle more than keeping them straight or turned out. This means you can use this specific foot position to deliberately work one side of your calf if you want to build it unevenly.
Changing how you point your feet while doing calf raises changes which parts of your calf muscle work the hardest. This means you can easily tweak your workout form to target specific areas of your calves and fix any strength imbalances.