Building calves seems to be one of the most elusive body building goals for those who want to get some shape to their legs. More times than not – the reason why all those calf raises being done are ineffective is because the muscle is not being worked to its full potential. By doing a standing calf raise where you are focused on getting the ankle FORWARD as well as up, this is the key to shortening and thus contracting the muscle correctly and to start getting some progress with them! You won’t need a lot of weight (Body weight is often enough for single leg calf raises!) to start but as you get better, you can add small increments of weight by putting a dead ball on one shoulder or holding a weight in one hand while the other hand holds onto a something for balance and support.
This variation on the leaning calf stretch targets the second muscle that makes up your calves – the Soleus muscle. It sits behind the Gastrocnemius muscle and is more of a longer sheath of muscle compared to the somewhat bulked up look of the Gastrocnemius.