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Leg Press Calf Raise

A step-by-step form guide from the Ægir Iron exercise library: how to do the lift, what to watch for, and the muscles it trains.

Equipment

Machine

HOW TO PERFORM

1. Sit in the leg press and set the balls of the feet on the bottom edge of the platform, about hip width apart, with the heels hanging off.
2. Press the platform up to straight legs without locking the knees hard, and leave the safety stops engaged.
3. Let the platform push the toes back toward you until the calves are fully stretched.
4. Press through the balls of the feet to point the toes as far as they go, and pause at the top.
5. Return slowly into the stretch, keeping the knees still on every rep.

FORM TIPS

• The knees stay straight and still. If they bend to help, the leg press is doing the rep and the calves are not.
• Only the balls of the feet go on the platform, and the shoes should grip. A foot that slips off the edge under load lets the sled down onto you.
• Full range at both ends and a hard pause at the top, as on any calf raise.

TARGET MUSCLES

Primary

• Calves

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Related: All exercises · How every exercise is mapped to the muscles it trains