Form cues
- Rise straight up
- Press through big toe
- Control the lowering
- Keep torso tall
Exercise
Dumbbell Standing Calf Raise
Lower legs, dumbbell
A standing calf exercise where you hold dumbbells at your sides and raise your heels to train the calves and ankles.
Target: calves. Also works: ankles.
Steps
- Stand upright with a dumbbell in each hand and place your feet about hip-width apart.
- Let your arms hang by your sides and keep your knees softly bent.
- Press through the balls of your feet and lift your heels as high as you can.
- Pause briefly at the top while staying tall through your torso.
- Lower your heels back to the floor with control and repeat.
Common mistakes
- Bouncing at the bottom instead of lowering under control
- Rolling the ankles outward or inward
- Bending the knees to turn it into a squat
- Leaning the torso forward as the heels lift
Breathing
Inhale as you lower your heels, and exhale as you press up onto your toes.
In the app, search for Dumbbell Standing Calf Raise and add it to a workout.