calf builder with your knees bent and the pads loaded across your thighs
the gastrocnemius crosses the knee, so bending it takes that muscle out and
leaves the soleus underneath carrying the whole rep
that makes it the one calf raise here that trains something the standing
versions cannot reach
Execution
Sit at the calf machine with the pads across your lower thighs and the balls of
your feet on the platform, heels hanging off. Set the pads so your knees sit at
roughly ninety degrees.
lower your heels as far below the platform as they will go
pause briefly in the stretched position to maximize tension
drive through the balls of your feet to raise your heels as high as you can
control the descent back into the stretch
keep your knees bent throughout
Do not straighten your knees to get more weight up. The bent knee is the entire
reason this row exists.
Purpose
calf builder with your knees bent and the pads loaded across your thighs
the gastrocnemius crosses the knee, so bending it takes that muscle out and
leaves the soleus underneath carrying the whole rep
that makes it the one calf raise here that trains something the standing
versions cannot reach
Execution
Sit at the calf machine with the pads across your lower thighs and the balls of
your feet on the platform, heels hanging off. Set the pads so your knees sit at
roughly ninety degrees.
lower your heels as far below the platform as they will go
pause briefly in the stretched position to maximize tension
drive through the balls of your feet to raise your heels as high as you can
control the descent back into the stretch
keep your knees bent throughout
Do not straighten your knees to get more weight up. The bent knee is the entire
reason this row exists.