Two main groups in the back of the lower part of the leg make up the calf muscle: the gastrocnemius, or gastroc for short, and the soleus. The calf muscles are one of the most common places for people to experience muscle cramps due to overuse or...
The gastrocnemius muscle is a short, horseshoe-shaped muscle in the calf, close to the knees; the soleus muscle is the longer muscle of the calf that lies beneath the gastrocnemius. Tight calf muscles can throw your spinal alignment off,...
The calves bear a lot of weight. Standing, walking, running, climbing stairs – the calves are in action. It’s no wonder they get tired and tight. Even while sitting or lying down, the calves can grow stiff as fluids pool in the feet...
Two major calf muscles power and absorb the shock of every step you take. The obvious two-headed gastrocnemius -- with two attachment points at the top of the muscle instead of just one attachment at the bottom of the muscle -- gives your calf its...
Although any two fitness experts are unlikely to agree on exactly how and when you should stretch, there’s a general consensus that flexibility training is important for proper body mechanics and injury prevention. The American Council on...
Stretching the calf involves targeting the two main calf muscles, the gastrocnemius and the soleus. Your gastrocnemius is the larger of the two muscles and is just under the back of the knee, making up the "ball" part of the calf. The soleus is...
The calf muscles are composed of the gastrocnemius, the large muscle located opposite the shin, and the soleus, the smaller muscle located just below the gastrocnemius. The calf muscles can withstand a large amount of force and are responsible for...
Stretching will improve flexibility, increase circulation, and relieve stress, and it should be an important part of your regular workout routine, says the Mayo Clinic. Whether you are getting ready to run a 10k or play a pick-up game, properly...
While you may stretch your calf muscles before and after exercise, daily stretching is equally important for your overall health. Tight calves may cause lower back pain, foot problems and pain in the Achilles tendon --- the tendon that joins the...
The calf muscles do a lot of work just in everyday life. They work when your walking around your home or when you are climbing the stairs. If you are doing just about any kind of exercise, your calf muscles will likely play an even greater role....
Two major muscles --- the gastrocnemius and soleus --- make up your calf. Both work to extend your ankle in a movement called dorsiflexion. Both calf muscles can be prone to tightness and, if they become overly short, the function of both your...
As Suzanne Martin states in her book "Stretching," stretching helps lengthen muscles, which can shorten because of exercises, gravity and age. Therefore, the lengthening affect of any calf stretch that is performed on a regular basis may help give...
Whether you walk, bicycle, swim or play basketball, your calf muscles play a huge role in almost any physical activity involving your legs. When you're strength training your upper body, your calves help stabilize your body in every standing...
Stretching encourages and maintains flexibility, which can help prevent injuries and ease tightness in muscles and joints. Many people experience tightness in their calves, the muscles at the back of their lower legs. The calf muscle is composed...
Your calves are a complex muscle group made up of five smaller muscles. The gastrocnemius, the largest of the calf muscles, is the most visible from the outside. The peroneus longus runs down the outside of your lower leg and is most visually...
Calf muscle pain and fatigue are the most common problems in runners and athletes. Due to over-exertion of the calf muscles, anything from strains to weakness can bring on bouts of mild to severe calf muscle pain. Although medications are...
Tightness in the calf is often caused by too much neural stimulation to the muscles and connective tissues, which cause weakness to the opposing muscle group (tibialis complex). To decrease the tightness, you should first find the cause, stretch...
People who exercise to increase muscle size require higher levels of flexibility in order to perform at full capacity. Stretching --- or a slow lengthening of your major muscles --- represents a proven method to prepare your body for exercise and...
Your calf is made up of two major muscles: the two-headed gastrocnemius, which gives your lower leg its wide-on-top, narrow-at-bottom shape, and the "inside" calf muscle, the soleus. You've probably never seen your soleus, since it's located deep...
Running, jumping and other sports-related movements can cause a calf strain in athletes, while less trained individuals can suffer calf strains from simple movements such as walking. Calf strains are a common injury that occurs when the force...
Stretching muscles is important before and after exercise. This activity will help elongate the muscle fibers and relax the tension that may build up in the muscles, especially for those who participate in cardiovascular exercises like running,...
Your calf muscles are used in just about every type of exercise, from biking to jogging to playing sports. It is easy to aggravate and keep reinjuring a calf muscle, and may stay sore in between times you exercise during everyday use. You should...
Tight calf muscles can cause pain, and over time may lead to foot injuries. Getting calf muscles to loosen up can be challenging. Determining the cause of the calf muscle tightness, treating the problem and proper stretching technique might help...
Stretching is very important for flexibility and preventing injury. The calf muscles are among the busiest in the body, working every time you take a step. Tight calves can lead to variety of overuse injuries like shin splints, affect your gait...
Plantar fascia is a deep layer of connective tissue that begins at the heel, spreads along the bottom of the foot, and divides into bands that enclose the tendons of each toe. It is important for protecting the bottom of the foot from injury as...
Most doctors and sports professionals agree that performing calf stretches is a good way to prevent injuries, reduce plantar fasciitis pain, increase flexibility and enhance sports performance over time. Stretching your muscles is best done after...
Stretching is good for your muscles and is even used to help rehabilitate injured muscles. Pain while stretching can be confusing. Cramps could be by your stretching technique itself or, if they occur during a post-workout stretch, from your...
Your gastrocnemius --- the large, visible muscle in each calf --- primarily serves to flex your ankle joint and functions secondarily to flex your knee joint. Put another way, the calf muscles primarily help you lift up onto your tiptoes and...
Your calf consists of two muscles: the gastronemius and the soleus. These muscles allow for movement of your foot and ankle. Tight calf muscles are a common complaint. They occur as a result of living a sedentary lifestyle or because of strenuous...
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