Calf Raises - With Bands

Also called band calf raise, banded calf raise and resistance band calf raise.

Works

Calves

Equipment

Band

Level

Beginner

Type

Isolation

How to do it

Setup. Grab an exercise band and stand on it with your toes making sure that the length of the band between the foot and the arms is the same for both sides.

1. While holding the handles of the band, raise the arms to the side of your head as if you were getting ready to perform a shoulder press. The palms should be facing forward with the elbows bent and to the sides. This movement will create tension on the band. This will be your starting position.
2. Keeping the hands by your shoulder, stand up on your toes as you exhale and contract the calves hard at the top of the movement.
3. After a one second contraction, slowly go back down to the starting position.
4. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

Cues

• Stand on the band, handles at shoulders.
• Rise high on the toes.
• Hold 1 second at the top.
• Lower slow.

Common mistakes

• Bending the knees.
• Short range.

Where to start

A starting point, not a law. Pick a weight you could lift two or three more times than the top of the range. Tempo is seconds down, pause, up. When every set hits the top of the range, add a little weight.

Harder

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