Calf raise leg press

Calf raise on the leg press is an exercise in which you extend the ankles plantarly from a leg press position by pushing the heels up in a controlled manner. As hips and knees are fixed, the focus is entirely on the calf muscles. The exercise allows for heavy and controlled loading of the calf muscles, with minimal strain on the rest of the body.

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Calf Raise Leg Press

Purpose of the exercise

Aims to strengthen the calf muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus) and increase the load capacity of the Achilles tendon. Improves strength, control and endurance of the ankle plantarflexors. Important for running, sprinting, jumping and pushing off, and relevant within both performance training and rehabilitation.

Supplies

Leg press machine
Flat and stable setup
Correctly adjusted resistance and foot position

Starting position

Position yourself correctly in the leg press machine
Place the front feet on the lower edge of the platform
Heels clear of the platform
Hips and knees slightly flexed and fixed
Hull and pelvis stable against support

Implementation

Start from a neutral ankle position
Push the platform plate away by stretching the ankles
Come up controlled as high as possible on the forefeet
Keep tension at the top of the movement
Slowly lower the heels
If necessary, sink slightly below neutral for full range of motion
Maintain constant tension during movement

Points of interest

✓ Move controlled over full range of motion
✓ Keep knees stable and fixed
✓ Pressure through big toe and midfoot
✓ Breathe calmly and controlled
✓ Focus on tension in the calf muscles

✗ Bounce or use momentum
✗ Lowering heels too quickly
✗ Single tilt inwards or outwards
✗ Excessive load without control
✗ Ignoring pain in calf or Achilles tendon

When this exercise?

Calf raise on the leg press is used to improve the strength and load capacity of the calf muscles and Achilles tendon in a targeted way, with minimal influence of balance or trunk stability. The exercise is suitable for athletes and clients who want to build or restore calf strength, for example in cases of Achilles tendon, calf muscle or ankle complaints.

In addition, this exercise can be used within performance training for athletes where push-off power and repeated jumping or running loads are important. The leg press position makes the exercise easy to dose, which is valuable in build-up and rehabilitation programmes. Application, loading and progression should always take place in consultation with a physiotherapist or other qualified professional, so that the exercise is safely tailored to individual load capacity, complaints and recovery status.

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Ruben Luijkx

Ruben Luijkx, Master of Science and co-owner of Fysio Fitaal, specialises in sports-related complaints, ultrasound diagnostics and manual therapy. Writing on physiofitaal.nl, he introduces you to the expertise and professionalism of Fysio Fitaal in Tilburg.