Supported Calf Raise

CalvesWall or chair

A calf-strengthening exercise using a wall or chair for balance. The support lets you focus entirely on squeezing your calves.

How to do it

1Stand facing a wall or chair, lightly placing your hands on it for balance.

2Position your feet parallel and hip-width apart.

3Smoothly push up onto your toes as high as possible, shifting your weight to the balls of your feet.

4Pause at the top for a split second to maximize the calf contraction.

5Slowly lower your heels back down until they touch the floor.

Common mistakes

Leaning too heavily on your hands, which takes the load off your calves.

Letting your ankles roll in or out, which unevenly distributes weight and risks strain.

Bouncing quickly up and down, which uses tendon elasticity instead of muscle strength.

Breathing

Exhale as you rise onto your toes; inhale as you lower your heels back down.

Make it harder or easier

To scale down, reduce the range of motion; to scale up, perform single-leg calf raises while keeping the other foot off the floor.

This is general guidance, not a medical opinion. Listen to your body: if it hurts, stop. If you have an injury or a chronic condition, talk to a doctor first.