The calf muscles at the back of the leg are made up of two main muscles - the horseshoe shaped muscle at the top of our lower leg, and also the most prominent of the two muscles, attaches at one end above our knee joint. This is why if we bend our knees to do seated calf raises, we can lower the amount of work this muscle is doing and push the majority of that work onto our other calf muscle.
We can also use this attachment point to our advantage. The lying Leg Curl also works that muscle to a degree because of it and you can emphasise this by pointing your toes throughout the movement.
So if you want to give your calves a blast, after working your standard calf raises to failure, as quick as you can so they don't have time to recover, get yourself in the Leg Curl and you can now use your hamstrings to assist you, allowing you to push your calves even further.
My favorite calf exercise is actually a bent legged one in the smith machine with feet on a step and pad on the bar placed on my thighs close to the knees.
Cycling, especially on hilly routes or routes with a few bridges. If I really want to test my leg strength, promote muscle growth (legs) and endurance then cycling over the bridge that goes over the M4 near the Heston service station and Junction 3.
Normally only go over the bridge once or two; however, if I really want to work my calves and more importantly focus on climbs, then 3-5 times.
Although, sometimes I do include barbell calf raises in my weights routine, 3-4*20.
I like Donkey Calf Raises. As much for the name as anything
How do you do those jock?
The trainee bends over and the resistance is applied to the lower back. You have to then stand on your tips toes (whilst bent at 90 degrees), contracting the calf muscle group, before slowly lowering back down.
Usually there is a machine for safe application of the resistance to the lower back, but I have seen people have their training partner lay the plates directly on their lower back without problem.
I like Donkey Calf Raises. As much for the name as anything
How do you do those jock?
The trainee bends over and the resistance is applied to the lower back. You have to then stand on your tips toes (whilst bent at 90 degrees), contracting the calf muscle group, before slowly lowering back down.
Usually there is a machine for safe application of the resistance to the lower back, but I have seen people have their training partner lay the plates directly on their lower back without problem.
I thought there were the ones where you got on all fours, and then kicked your leg up and out, or are they donkey kicks *gets confused*
