Liftworthy
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Liftworthy

Every exercise ranked by research, by lifters and by results. Find what’s S-tier for your goal, then train it.

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General training information, not medical advice. If something hurts, stop and see a professional.
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Explore/Calves

Single-Leg Calf Raise

DumbbellIsolationEasy to learnOne side at a time
Front
Back
Primary

Works

Calves

You need

Dumbbells

How to do itPictures · 3 steps
1Stretch
2Top
Main muscles
  1. 1Stand on a step, holding a dumbbell
  2. 2Drop the heel low
  3. 3Rise as high as you can

Most common mistake

Shortening the range as fatigue builds.

Watch a demo

Good for

  • Ranked #1 for running and #3 for basketball
  • Keeps the work on the target muscle
  • Loads the muscle while it’s stretched
  • Helps prevent common running injuries

Compare with

vs Donkey Calf Raisevs Dumbbell Calf Raisevs Seated Calf Raise
A
For racket
#10 of 19
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Research
70
Scored by hand
Results
Soon
From the app
How lifters rate itBe the first
S
A
B
C
D
F
Why research scores it 70
TransferGood
Injury protectionStrong
PracticalityExcellent

Calf and Achilles strength for constant starts and stops.

Research behind these criteria

  • Transfer: Seitz et al., 2014 · Markovic, 2007 · Blagrove et al., 2018 · Rønnestad & Mujika, 2014
  • Injury protection: Lauersen et al., 2014 · van Dyk et al., 2019 · Harøy et al., 2019 · Webster & Hewett, 2018
How scores work

Machine taken? Swap to

  • SLateral BoundBodyweight
  • AMed Ball Rotational ThrowOther
  • ACable External RotationCable
  • SLateral LungeDumbbell

Takes

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280