Calves

Your calves assist with lifting your heel when walking, running or jumping. The calf muscles merge with the Achilles tendon, which inserts into the heel bone (Calcaneus)

The location:

Back (posterior) of the lower leg

The muscle group’s made up of 2 muscles

• Gastrocnemius (larger) The bulgy muscle under the skin
• Soleus (smaller) The flatter muscle that lies underneath the Gastrocnemius

Muscle group function:

• Plantar flexion at the ankle (Pointing of the foot and toes downwards)

Benefits:

Your calves are what act as stabilisers for your ankles and feet. When you look after your calves not only do you benefit aesthetically but also biomechanically. If you target them properly when training you can reduce the risk of injury (Calf pulls are the second most common injury in runners who don’t stretch and train their calves!).