Isometric Seated Calf Raise
Key notes
- Type of exercise: Isometric
- Muscles used:Soleus
- Good for: Developing strength, building confidence to load achillies
- When to use during rehab: Early stages
Equipment options
If you’re doing this exercise with a patient in clinic, you’ll need a squat rack and an Olympic bar. If you don’t have access to these or your patient is doing the exercise at home, they can use two tables and a broom pole instead.
Method
- Have your patient sit down, with their knees placed underneath the Olympic bar.
- Make sure that their toes are on the floor and have them push up against the squat rack as hard as possible.
- Have them do this for roughly 30 seconds and then have them relax.
Escalating difficulty
Repeat the exercise with your patient, but this time, place a gym step below their toes and have them push up against the bar once again.
- Have them do this for 30 seconds
- The step allows for the ankle to be trialled in a different position.
