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Exercise guide

Seated Calf Raise

How to do the Seated Calf Raise with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

IsolationMachineBeginnerPush
Primary muscles

Calves

Secondary

Equipment

Machine

Step by step

How to do the Seated Calf Raise

  1. 1

    Sit on the machine and place your toes on the lower portion of the platform provided with the heels extending off. Choose the toe positioning of your choice (forward, in, or out) as per the beginning of this chapter.

  2. 2

    Place your lower thighs under the lever pad, which will need to be adjusted according to the height of your thighs. Now place your hands on top of the lever pad in order to prevent it from slipping forward.

  3. 3

    Lift the lever slightly by pushing your heels up and release the safety bar. This will be your starting position.

  4. 4

    Slowly lower your heels by bending at the ankles until the calves are fully stretched. Inhale as you perform this movement.

  5. 5

    Raise the heels by extending the ankles as high as possible as you contract the calves and breathe out. Hold the top contraction for a second.

  6. 6

    Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Seated Calf Raise set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap — so your calves volume is visible at a glance — and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Related

More calves exercises

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