Calve raises help!

milhouse2 · 04-10-2006, 08:31 AM

When doing calve raises, should they be done slowly and under control or very quickly? I see some people at the gym and they almost look like they're bouncing on the machine they are going so fast.

Bakerboy · 04-10-2006, 09:37 AM

It is always a good idea to control the weight you are lifting. I like to do calf raises slow (a four count) with pause at the top, lowering the weight almost as slow or as slow on the way up as the way down.

**P-funk** · 04-10-2006, 11:59 AM

pause at the bottom of the rep, not the top.

Bakerboy · 04-10-2006, 12:10 PM

P-funk I thought a slight pause at the top was to hold and maintain the contraction to feel the burn (thus overloading the musscle fibers). What is the the theory behind pausing at the bottom? Is it for the stretch?

What do other people do? Pause at the top or the bottom of calf raises???

TJ Cline · 04-10-2006, 12:12 PM

I do them slow and hold at the top

**P-funk** · 04-10-2006, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bakerboy

P-funk I thought a slight pause at the top was to hold and maintain the contraction to feel the burn (thus overloading the musscle fibers). What is the the theory behind pausing at the bottom? Is it for the stretch?

What do other people do? Pause at the top or the bottom of calf raises???

the pause at the top of the contraction is fine. The reason I say pause at the bottom is because the achilles tendon is very good at returning elastic energy via the stretch relflex. This is why people can load up that thing and bounce out of the bottom. By pausing at teh bottom for a 3-5 count, you decrease the response of the muscle spindles and the calves have to work that much harder to overcome the static inertia of the calf raise machine. Give it a shot. It will cut your weights in half but it will increase your results.

**CowPimp** · 04-10-2006, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P-funk

the pause at the top of the contraction is fine. The reason I say pause at the bottom is because the achilles tendon is very good at returning elastic energy via the stretch relflex. This is why people can load up that thing and bounce out of the bottom. By pausing at teh bottom for a 3-5 count, you decrease the response of the muscle spindles and the calves have to work that much harder to overcome the static inertia of the calf raise machine. Give it a shot. It will cut your weights in half but it will increase your results.

This is a great technique for any lift really, but yeah, the calves are really fucking stubborn at giving up their elastic energy. It also involves an element of isometric contraction added into the lift. This is a great technique for the bench press or squats to get more confident out of the hole, and may even increase pectoral stimulation in the bench press (As the chest is more active at the bottom of the movement).

Maxim · 04-11-2006, 11:47 PM

I just pushed my calves past the 17" mark through JReps. I started with 10" calves -- back in '77 -- so I see this as quite an achievement! Obviously to get the most out of a set -- which only needs to be done once weekly -- you need to move deliberately between the two zones. As you overcome the sticking point, the hinderance in any exercise, you work the calves more uniformally along their entire length. All the best!

TJ Cline · 04-11-2006, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxim

I just pushed my calves past the 17" mark through JReps. I started with 10" calves so I see this as quite an achievement! Obviously to get the most out of a set -- which only needs to be done once weekly -- you need to move deliberately between the two zones. As you overcome the sticking point, the hinderance in any exercise, you work the calves more uniformally along their entire length. All the best!

Maxim · 04-12-2006, 12:00 AM

Sorry I don't get it?

TJ Cline · 04-12-2006, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxim

Sorry I don't get it?

Ummm, your full of shit son....get it now???

FishOrCutBait · 04-12-2006, 12:11 AM

nobody puts on 7" on their calves. ever. EVER. can i say it again? EVER

TJ Cline · 04-12-2006, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FishOrCutBait

nobody puts on 7" on their calves. ever. EVER. can i say it again? EVER

Or makes them grow by 70%....these fucking kids are so full of shit. I bet they were 13 and are now 15

Maxim · 04-12-2006, 01:09 AM

Sorry, my mistake. I edited my post, I meant to say since '77.

Btw Foremanrules, three decades of dedicated lifting dismisses me from the "kid" category...I wish!

04-10-2006, 08:31 AM	#1
milhouse2 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 26	Calve raises help! When doing calve raises, should they be done slowly and under control or very quickly? I see some people at the gym and they almost look like they're bouncing on the machine they are going so fast.

04-10-2006, 11:59 AM	#3
P-funk Patrick Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: AZ Posts: 31,701	pause at the bottom of the rep, not the top. E-Book: Take Charge! Everything You Need To Know To Write Your Own Training Programs Online Consulting/Program Design Reality Based Fitness Podcast Check me out on Twitter! Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter! "In the beginners mind there are many possibilities, in the experts there are few." -Buddha's Little Instruction Book

04-11-2006, 11:47 PM	#8
Maxim Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 5	I just pushed my calves past the 17" mark through JReps. I started with 10" calves -- back in '77 -- so I see this as quite an achievement! Obviously to get the most out of a set -- which only needs to be done once weekly -- you need to move deliberately between the two zones. As you overcome the sticking point, the hinderance in any exercise, you work the calves more uniformally along their entire length. All the best! Last edited by Maxim : 04-12-2006 at 01:08 AM.

04-12-2006, 12:11 AM	#12
FishOrCutBait lifts weights Elite Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Minneapple Posts: 4,817 Photos: 2	nobody puts on 7" on their calves. ever. EVER. can i say it again? EVER This is my journal. Click it and such "tried and true theory on one's self is probably the only non-biased proof that something works for someone." - juggernaut http://www.ronpaul.com/

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

04-10-2006, 09:37 AM	#2
Bakerboy cat burglar Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: the city of champions Posts: 4,146 Photos: 3	It is always a good idea to control the weight you are lifting. I like to do calf raises slow (a four count) with pause at the top, lowering the weight almost as slow or as slow on the way up as the way down.

04-10-2006, 12:10 PM	#4
Bakerboy cat burglar Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: the city of champions Posts: 4,146 Photos: 3	P-funk I thought a slight pause at the top was to hold and maintain the contraction to feel the burn (thus overloading the musscle fibers). What is the the theory behind pausing at the bottom? Is it for the stretch? What do other people do? Pause at the top or the bottom of calf raises???

04-10-2006, 12:12 PM	#5
TJ Cline Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,545	I do them slow and hold at the top

04-12-2006, 12:00 AM	#10
Maxim Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 5	Sorry I don't get it?

04-12-2006, 01:09 AM	#14
Maxim Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 5	Sorry, my mistake. I edited my post, I meant to say since '77. Btw Foremanrules, three decades of dedicated lifting dismisses me from the "kid" category...I wish!