Function of the Calf Muscles and Preventing Injury

The calf muscles consist of the gastrocnemius and the soleus. The gastrocnemeus is the visible muscle we see and the soleus lies just underneath the gastrocnemeus, the deeper layer of the calves.

These muscles have the same function and that is to raise the heel of the foot. The difference is the soleus works when the knee is bent, for example seated calf raises. The gastrocnemius works when the knee is not bent like in standing calf raises.

It's important to stretch and strengthen the calves to prevent overuse injury and loss of elasticity. Running and any type of high impact exercise can put undue stress on the lower body. If you experience tightness in your calves or achilles tendonitis, you may need to perform some proper stretching and strengthening exercises.

If you don't start stretching your muslces you'll lose elasticity and eventually lose the ability to perform exercises in their full range of motion. This will lead to overuse injuries like achillies tendonitis.

Prevent problems with calves by stretching before and after any type of workout that requires you to use your lower body. And if you already experience tightness in the calves or achillies tendonitis then you may want to stretch your calves several times a day in addition to stretching them before and after workouts.

Strengthening the appropriate muscles is just as important as stretching. Standing calf raises and seated calf raises are good exercises to strengthen the calves.

Stretch the calves by performing foam roller exercise for the calf muscles and wall calf stretch.

Two other muscle that may be week and leading to achillies tendonitis for example are the anterior and posterior tibialis. These muscles work to point, flex and rotate your foot.

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