Seated Calf Raise Machine

Who Should Do It? 

General Population

The general population’s training focus is to increase muscle mass and improve function. This can be achieved by performing compound and isolation exercises to overload muscle tissue to promote growth.

The seated calf machine is a lower-body isolation exercise that overloads the calf muscle, increasing mass. Our calf muscles play a vital role in walking, running, and jumping. By strengthening this muscle, the general population can improve function.

Bodybuilders

Bodybuilding requires participants to increase lean muscle mass while maintaining symmetry for aesthetic appeal. This requires a progressive overload of muscle tissue to stimulate growth. 

The seated position of the seated calf raise machine enables us to focus on engaging the soleus and gastrocnemius. Being an isolation exercise, we can concentrate on activating these muscles and guiding them through a full range of motion. This helps us increase muscle mass and symmetry, enhancing our physique.    

Athletes

An athlete’s training focuses on improving strength, speed, power, and balance to enhance performance. This can done by undergoing functional training programs and isolation exercises. 

Functional training programs use multiplanar movements that mimic sports demands, using resistance, balance, agility, and plyometrics training to enhance performance. Meanwhile, isolation exercises can be used to target specific muscle performance and address deficits in strength and activation. 

The seated calf raise machine is an isolation exercise that can improve calf muscle activation and performance. Our calves are responsible for generating force, and propelling us forward. By performing this movement, we can improve strength, and force, and reduce deficits to enhance performance.     

Who Should Not Do It?

People With Recent Achilles Injuries

If you have recently sustained an Achilles injury you should avoid using the seated calf raise machine. When we sustain Achilles injuries such as tears and tendinopathies, the initial phase of the healing process begins. Here we will experience pain, swelling, and loss of function.

While exercise and loading of tendons can restore strength and function, performed early can increase the risk of injury depending on the condition present. If you are currently experiencing Achilles tendon pain, pushing down with your toes may cause further aggravation. This can lead to pain and poor technique.

People With Recent Calf Tears

People who have recently torn a calf muscle should use the seated calf raise machine. During the initial days of a calf muscle tear, we can experience pain, swelling, and loss of function. 

Exercise can be a useful tool during the recovery and rehabilitation process. However, when administered too soon it can lead to further damage. If you have just sustained a calf tear pushing down with your toes may be difficult. This may lead to pain, poor technique, and further aggravation.

People With Recent Ankle Sprains

If you have recently sprained and damaged the ligaments surrounding your ankle, you should avoid the seated calf raise machine. Ankle sprains are the most common lower limb injury in athletes being 16%–40% of all sports-related injuries. Early stages can cause pain, swelling, and loss of function.

Exercise can be used to rehabilitate and restore function for joint injuries, but performed in the early stage can lead to further damage. If you have just sprained your ankle, placing weight through your toes will be difficult and cause pain. This can lead to improper technique and further aggravation. 

Benefits Of The Exercise

Builds Strength

Muscular strength training allows us to produce maximal force against external resistance. Our calf muscles are strong muscles capable of propelling us forward during walking and running. Because of this, they can be loaded up with significant resistance at a high intensity to promote strength.

The seated calf raise machine is a safe and effective way to increase muscular strength. The machine enables us to overload the calves, requiring us to produce maximal force against an external resistance, improving strength.

We recommend pairing them with a range of muscular endurance exercises to enhance your overall fitness.

Improves Balance

Enhancing balance requires the response and coordination of the visual,  sensory inner ear, muscular, and skeletal systems. These systems work together to provide our body with an awareness of itself in space, also known as proprioception. This can be achieved by performing strength and balance exercises in various intensities and durations.

The seated calf raises machine’s ability to strengthen our calf muscles can help improve balance. Calf muscles play a role in posture. When we perform resistance exercises, we can improve strength and endurance. This enables us to develop a greater mind-muscle connection, enhancing proprioception, which contributes to improved balance.

Enhances Appearance 

Enhancing our appearance and physique requires an increase in muscle mass. This is achieved by performing compound and isolation exercises at a moderate to high intensity. 

Compound exercises use multiple muscle groups, allowing us to increase resistance and volume. Meanwhile, isolation exercise can be used to increase the volume of specific muscles to develop our physique.

The seated calf raise machine isolates the calf muscles. It enables us to target our soleus and gastrocnemius, increasing training volume and muscle mass. This helps us develop lower leg mass, enhancing our appearance and physique. 

Frequently Asked Questions