Form cues
- Drive through big toe
- Lift heels straight up
- Control the lowering
- Keep knees still
Exercise
Lever Seated Calf Raise
Lower legs, leverage machine
A seated machine calf exercise where you raise and lower your heels to train the soleus through ankle plantarflexion.
Target: calves. Also works: soleus, ankle stabilizers.
Steps
- Adjust the seat so the thigh pad rests securely on your thighs with your knees bent about 90 degrees.
- Place the balls of your feet on the footplate with your heels hanging off the edge.
- Grip the handles or seat and lift your heels to take the weight onto your calves.
- Press through the balls of your feet to raise your heels as high as you can.
- Pause briefly at the top while keeping your toes planted.
- Lower your heels slowly until you feel a stretch in your calves, then repeat.
Common mistakes
- Bouncing out of the bottom instead of lowering under control.
- Letting the knees shift up and down during the rep.
- Rolling the feet outward or inward on the platform.
- Using only a short top-half range of motion.
Breathing
Inhale as you lower your heels, and exhale as you press up onto the balls of your feet.
In the app, search for Lever Seated Calf Raise and add it to a workout.