Calf Muscle Stretch

Posted by Stuart Hinds on Jul 07, 2019

diagram of the calf muscle stretch

Technique

Stand upright and place one foot in front of the other. Bend your front leg and keep your back leg straight. Push your heel to the ground and lean forward. Place your hands on the ground in front of you.

Make sure the toes of your back leg are facing forward. Letting your toes point to one side will cause this stretch to put uneven tension on the calf muscles. Over an extended period of time, this could lead to a muscle imbalance.

Muscles being stretched

Primary muscle: Gastrocnemius.
Secondary muscles: Tibialis posterior, flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus, peroneus longus and brevis, plantaris.

Sports that benefit from this stretch

Basketball
Netball
Boxing
Cycling
Hiking Backpacking
Mountaineering
Orienteering
Ice hockey
Field hockey
Ice-skating
Roller-skating
Inline skating
Martial arts
Tennis
Badminton
Squash
Running
Track
Cross-country
American football (gridiron)
Soccer
Rugby
Snow skiing
Water skiing
Surfing
Swimming
Walking
Race walking

Sports injuries where this stretch may be useful

Calf strain
Achilles tendon strain
Achilles tendonitis
Medial tibial pain syndrome (shin splints)

Learn more

Anatomy of Sports Injuries Master Course

Corrective Exercise Solutions for Hip and Shoulder Dysfunction

Soft Tissue Release Master Course

About the author

Stuart Hinds is one of Australia’s leading soft tissue therapists, with over 27 years of experience as a practitioner, working with elite sports athletes, supporting Olympic teams, educating and mentoring others as well as running a highly successful clinic in Geelong.

Stuart has a strong following of practitioners across Australia and globally who tap into his expertise as a soft-tissue specialist. He delivers a range of highly sought after seminars across Australia, supported by online videos, webinars and one-on-one mentoring to help support his colleagues to build successful businesses.

In 2016, Stuart was awarded a lifetime membership to Massage & Myotherapy Australia for his significant support and contribution to the industry.

* * *

This trigger point therapy blog is intended to be used for information purposes only and is not intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment or to substitute for a medical diagnosis and/or treatment rendered or prescribed by a physician or competent healthcare professional. This information is designed as educational material, but should not be taken as a recommendation for treatment of any particular person or patient. Always consult your physician if you think you need treatment or if you feel unwell.

Five Awesome Stretches for the Quads
Trigger points in the quadriceps muscles are commonly the cause of hip, thigh and knee pain The quadriceps is a large...
Five Stretches for the Trunk & Spine
Stretching is something that most of us should do daily - now could be a good time to start! It's a simple fact t...
Pectoralis Minor Release
The pectoralis minor responds well to treatment using the forearm. Dry needling can also be used to great effect, but...
Five Great Stretches for the Shoulder
The shoulder can be a common site for the development of trigger points, restriction, and a number of other ailments ...
Taping for Trigger Points - Which Tape to Use?
Taping for Trigger Points Kinesiology tape can help to provide an accumulated off-loading effect by lifting the tiss...
Self Help Tips for Sciatica
Sciatica most often occurs when the sciatic nerve is compressed by a herniated disk or bone spur The sciatic nerve i...