Seated Calf Raise

Start

Finish

How to do it

Sit with the pad locked low on the thighs and the balls of the feet on the platform, release the safety, then press the heels up to full extension and lower slowly into a deep stretch.

Muscles worked

Primary: calves

Equipment

Machines, Full gym

Common mistakes

• Setting the thigh pad on the knee joint instead of low on the thigh, which hurts and limits load
• Doing fast partial reps at the top rather than moving through the full ankle range
• Letting the heels drop fast and bounce out of the stretch

Variations

• One leg at a time
• Three-second pause in the stretched position

Can't do this one? Swap it for

• Standing Calf Raise
• Seated Dumbbell Calf Raise
• Machine Standing Calf Raise
• Band Calf Raise

Related exercises

• Jump Ropecalves
• Standing Calf Raisecalves
• Single-Leg Calf Raisecalves
• Deficit Calf Raisecalves
• Donkey Calf Raisecalves
• Tibialis Raisecalves