Leg press calf raise

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Also known as: Calf press

Calf raises done on the leg press sled, with the load off your spine.

What it is

You press the sled up with the legs nearly straight and drive it further using only the ankles. It is the easiest way to load calves heavily without a standing machine.

Muscles worked

Primary: Calves. Secondary: Quadriceps.

How to perform it

  1. Sit in the leg press and place the balls of your feet at the bottom edge of the platform.
  2. Press out until the knees are almost straight, then leave them there for the set.
  3. Push the platform away using the ankles alone, rising as high as the range allows.
  4. Lower until the heels drop below the platform edge for a full stretch, then repeat.

Common form faults

  • Bending and straightening the knees to move the sled. Lock the knee angle before the first rep and hold it. Only the ankles should move.
  • Bouncing out of the bottom. Pause for a beat in the stretch. The calf responds to time under load more than to speed.

Programming

12 to 20 reps with a pause at the bottom. Calves tolerate frequency well, so two or three sessions a week is reasonable.

Plan your training

Variations & substitutions

Frequently asked questions

Is the safety catch needed?
Yes, keep the safeties engaged. If your feet slip off the platform you want the sled stopped.
Straight or bent knee?
Near straight targets the gastrocnemius; the seated calf raise with a bent knee hits the soleus. Do both across the week.