Which is better – static or dynamic stretching for muscular tightness? The age old answer? It depends. These can include tasks such as standing to do the dishes, standing on one leg, and simple walking from place to place. Gas explodes! ( soleus used for posture, gastroc used for power!) These two muscles work with each other to power our lower legs for jumping, running, and explosive movements, as well as play a large role in our static and dynamic standing balance. Simple Mnemonic To Remember The Calf Complex MusclesĪ great way to remember the functions of the calf complex muscles is with a simple mnemonic: Stand on your soles. Gastrocnemius Muscleįor more info about the soleus, check out our article all about the best soleus exercises! READ: THE BEST SOLEUS EXERCISES It crosses both your ankle and knee joints, and therefore works to plantarflex the ankle (bend the toes toward the floor) and flex and stabilize at the knee. ![]() The gastroc is the larger, more visible muscle and is comprised of two large “heads” that split off from the body of the muscle. In this article, we briefly discuss anatomy of your calf, why tightness can occur, and the best tight calf exercises you can implement into your routine to make sure that tightness does not turn into a more serious issue!ĭid you know that there are actually TWO muscles that make up the calf? That’s right! The calf, anatomically referred to as the triceps surae (not to be confused with the tricep in your arm!), is actually made up of the gastrocnemius (gastroc) and the soleus muscles. Do you experience pain and feelings of tightness in your calves? Did you also know that calf tightness can be the culprit for difficulty with normal everyday activities such as walking and running? Research supports thorough assessment of muscular tightness when a person is experiencing pain in their calves with activity (1), and addressing these issues can lead to less overall discomfort and more ease with functional activity.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |