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Exercise guide

Standing Dumbbell Calf Raise

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

IsolationDumbbellIntermediatePush
Primary muscles

Calves

Secondary

Equipment

Dumbbell

Step by step

How to do the Standing Dumbbell Calf Raise

  1. 1

    Stand with your torso upright holding two dumbbells in your hands by your sides. Place the ball of the foot on a sturdy and stable wooden board (that is around 2-3 inches tall) while your heels extend off and touch the floor. This will be your starting position.

  2. 2

    With the toes pointing either straight (to hit all parts equally), inwards (for emphasis on the outer head) or outwards (for emphasis on the inner head), raise the heels off the floor as you exhale by contracting the calves. Hold the top contraction for a second.

  3. 3

    As you inhale, go back to the starting position by slowly lowering the heels.

  4. 4

    Repeat for the recommended amount of times.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Standing Dumbbell 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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