Hitting the Calf soleus?

[Squat200]

I work out at home and cannot do seated calf raises (no machine) will standing calf raises be sufficient to add sideways thickness the the calves, or do you need to hit the soleus specifically?
My lower legs really need to add thickness from the front-on view.
Thanks.

[sdb]

home seated calf raises:

sit on edge of bench with knees bent, toes on a block of wood or phone book (even a couple of weights will do).
place a weight on your lap toward your knees and do calf raises.


improv.

[Squat200]

Originally Posted by sdb

home seated calf raises:

sit on edge of bench with knees bent, toes on a block of wood or phone book (even a couple of weights will do).
place a weight on your lap toward your knees and do calf raises.


improv.

In my other post about volume I mentioned a three month lay off due to a knee injury - can you guess how it happened?
Will standing calf raises be enough or will I have to folk out 120 quid for one of those machines? (before you ask, no I won't go back to balancing a BB on my legs) I'd rather folk out the dosh.

[sdb]

just put a plate on your legs. that's what most do.



you only hit the soleus by bending the knees about 90 degrees. standing calf raises are only going to hit the gastrocnemous.

[sdb]

Originally Posted by Squat200

In my other post about volume I mentioned a three month lay off due to a knee injury - can you guess how it happened?
Will standing calf raises be enough or will I have to folk out 120 quid for one of those machines? (before you ask, no I won't go back to balancing a BB on my legs) I'd rather folk out the dosh.

you didn't mention what your injury was, just that you had one.

[Squat200]

Originally Posted by sdb

you didn't mention what your injury was, just that you had one.

My mistake.
The heaviest plates I have are 10kg (20 if I use 2), I've tried them and they aren't nearly heavy enough.

[sdb]

do them one leg at a time. the soleus is mostly activated on the negative, so slow them down.

[Prime]

what I used to do at home is go to someplace where there are stairs, and do one leg at a time standing on the edge of the stair (obviously stand on the bottom most step, lol). I'd hold a dumbbell in the hand on the same side as I was doing the calf raises with, and then keep my balance by holding onto the railing or whatever with my free hand. it worked perfectly.

[Squat200]

Originally Posted by Prime

what I used to do at home is go to someplace where there are stairs, and do one leg at a time standing on the edge of the stair (obviously stand on the bottom most step, lol). I'd hold a dumbbell in the hand on the same side as I was doing the calf raises with, and then keep my balance by holding onto the railing or whatever with my free hand. it worked perfectly.

Forgive my ignorance, but what you describe sounds like a one legged straight leg calf raise, not a bent knee calf raise.
Sorry if I've misunderstood.

[AKIRA]

Originally Posted by sdb

just put a plate on your legs. that's what most do.



you only hit the soleus by bending the knees about 90 degrees. standing calf raises are only going to hit the gastrocnemous.

Only? You sure the soleus doesnt get activated?

[sdb]

Originally Posted by AKIRA

Only? You sure the soleus doesnt get activated?

well, not necessarily only perse, but they are not the main muscluar focus of that particular movement.