Do you want admirable-looking calves? Well this article is definitely for you. Having a great calf requires effective exercises for strengthening and building your calf muscles. By doing so, you’ll be targeting the two muscles that make the calf:
⦁ The gastrocnemius muscle: This muscle gives the calf its rounded shape.
⦁ The Soleus: The flattered, longer muscle running underneath the gastrocnemius and lower down the leg.
Calf muscles are some of the most difficult to build, especially without the fancy equipment at the gym. However, you can effectively exercise and build both your gastrocnemius and sole even at home. And soon you’ll be ready to conquer longest running trails with your calves of steel.
Here are the 4 best exercises for improving your calves.
1. DOUBLE-LEG CALF RAISE
This exercise is done in order to tone and strengthen the calf muscles. It strengthens both the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. Calf raises are the classic calf-strengthening exercise. They use your body weight to strengthen and tone the gastrocnemius and soleus. To do this exercise, you’ll need to get balanced, so look for a wall if needed, and your feet should be hip-width apart from your ankles, knees, and hips vertically aligned.
How To Do This Exercise
⦁ Push your body upwards on the balls of both feet. Keep your abdominal muscles pulled in so that your back remains straight instead of being shifted forward or backward.
⦁ Additionally, you can add weight to strengthen your calves further, such as holding milk jugs, cans, a heavy backpack or something else while you do the exercises.
2. SINGLE-LEG CALF RAISE
You can intensify this exercise when you do one leg at a time. That way, you can strengthen your calf muscles even more. This is because your full body weight must be lifted by one leg instead of two. Again, you can stand close to a wall if you choose to, in case you need to balance yourself, and put your left leg behind you.
How To Do Exercise
⦁ Stand on one leg near a wall for balance with the other leg bent behind you. Be sure the ankle, knee, and hip of the leg you’re working are in vertical alignment to protect the joints.
⦁ Repeat with the other foot.
⦁ If you need to, hold something heavy with one hand and place the other hand on the wall to help you keep your balance.
⦁ It is important to work each leg equally to avoid one calf becoming thicker than the other.
3. SEATED CALF RAISE
Just like the double-leg raises that are done while standing, the seated calf raise works both calf muscles at the same time. To do this exercise, you will need a sturdy chair so that you can sit on it with your feet flat on the floor. While you are seated, make sure that your knees are aligned directly over your feet, and try to keep your knees stable.
How To Do This Exercise.
Now, raise your heels while pushing off the floor with the balls of your feet. Lift your heels as high as you can, and slowly lower them. Repeat.
To add more resistance to the exercise, lean forward with your hands on your thighs near your knees and push down.
4. SKIPPING OR JUMP ROPE
Your calf is constantly engaged when you use the jump rope. This helps to build the muscles, providing a good cardiovascular workout and makes you quicker on your feet as well. When you do this exercise regularly, you’ll see no reason to use weight equipment to tone your calf muscles
How To Do This Exercise
⦁ Hold your hands out to your sides, and make small, fast circles with your wrist to spin the rope. Jump an inch or so off the ground over the rope as it moves under your feet.
⦁ If you don’t have a jump rope or find this activity difficult, run on your toes in the same spot instead.
Conclusion
If you don’t feel any burn in your legs, the exercise isn’t being performed correctly or hasn’t been repeated enough. Keep trying until your legs feel sore. The feeling will go away in time, and you’ll be left stronger! Working your thighs, butt and abdominals will help you strengthen and grow calf muscles as well. Exercises like squats, lunges, leg raises and jumping jacks are beneficial.
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