Calf Excercises

[ukbsktbll]

When i'm doing the sitting down machine, where the pads go on your legs above your knees my hips start to hurt. I am not doing real heavy weight at all, 45s on both side and not much more when I go up. I just find it hurts my hips a lot after a few reps. Any suggestions?

[tarun_s]

you're probably doing it wrong. its not supposed to use your hips at all. and why are you training your soleus anyway?

[ukbsktbll]

im not using my hits just my calves. also whats wrong with doing that excercise?

[VikingPower]

Nothing wrong with that exercise, but it shouldn't be your primary calf exercise as it only works a small part of the calf (the Soleus) effectively. Any type of calf raise with the knees extended will mostly work the Gastrocnemius, and that's what you want to get those beefy calves. Calf raises with the knees slightly bent will work both muscles quite well.

So do plenty of standing/donkey/leg press calf raises, whatever you prefer, and throw in a couple of sets of the seated calf raise now and then.

[ukbsktbll]

Ok I thought that was what was going to be said. So would standing calf raises be the best to do?

[VikingPower]

I edited my post right before your last post, it should answer your question.

[ukbsktbll]

ok thanks

[ver Magnusson]

I'm assuming by your screen name that you are a basketball player. if that is the case then bent leg calf raises for the soleus are a lot more useful of an exercise than straight leg gastrocs. If you are into bodybuilding your calves for looks then yeah do more straight leg raises. Your hips are probably cramping a little bit while doing the seated raises. Do a hip flexor stretch beforehand and maybe drink some water and eat a banana.

[tarun_s]

I'm assuming by your screen name that you are a basketball player. if that is the case then bent leg calf raises for the soleus are a lot more useful of an exercise than straight leg gastrocs. If you are into bodybuilding your calves for looks then yeah do more straight leg raises. Your hips are probably cramping a little bit while doing the seated raises. Do a hip flexor stretch beforehand and maybe drink some water and eat a banana.

ummmmmmmmmm............................

no, the soleus is predominantly slow twitch, with the gastroc being fast twitch. for bb'ing and for playing ball, you want to train the fast twitch muscles. that being said, the calves arent really that important in any sport.

though the hip flexor stretch is a really good idea. i do that all the time before workouts and people who stretch their whole bodies before playing look at me like i'm crazy.

[ver Magnusson]

........actually that's a common misconception. While it's true that the soleus is more slow twitch it is still also true that it's more useful for basketball and athletics because in athletics the knees are bent the majority of the time making the soleus active and the main role of the calves is eccentrically resisting force by creating a "platform" for the larger leg muscles to push off of. Studies have shown that the calf has virtually 0 effect as far as providing propulsion. That's why really athetic dudes (Michael Jordan, Lavar Arrington, Vince Carter, etc.) usually have shockingly small calves. But if you look closely they all have rock solid soleuses.

http://content.answers.com/main/cont...px-SILavar.jpg

http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2005/writers/c...dan.pippen.jpg

[tarun_s]

nice. i never realized that. i mean i did know that the calves have little to do with propulsion and vertical but didnt realize that the soleus was responsible for stabilization.

[MetalMikeXVI]

I remembered reading in an article that whether one should train the majority of their calf work seated or standing depends on the length of the "calf" muscle belly. If one has "high calves" I guess it's better to train more soleus versus doing standing calf raises for those with longer calves. Just thought I'd throw that out there.