I have no calves.

odusgolp
odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I have one itty bitty non-existent calf muscle measuring 12.5 inches. I also don't have full mobility in that ankle either. Can anyone point me to some calf muscle building exercises that I can do without hurting myself? (OK, it's unlikely, as I hurt myself walking, but I'd like to try.)

EDIT: I should have elaborated... today is my first day in about 8 weeks out of a cast for a broken ankle, so I'm trying to get it back to about 14.5" where I started pre-cast. And I wasn't ordered PT b/c it's done really well getting back in shape on it's own (which is OK with me as my insurance sucks with PT).
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Replies

  • workkoutchick96
    workkoutchick96 Posts: 145
    I do calf raises until they burn so bad i cant stand it. reps of about 100 :) good luck!
  • elle18287
    elle18287 Posts: 267 Member
    Jump Rope! :)
  • sheclimbsrocks
    sheclimbsrocks Posts: 110 Member
    I'll give you some of mine. ;)
  • RoboLikes
    RoboLikes Posts: 519 Member
    You can have some of mine. My left calf is two inches bigger than my right, so help yourself :)
  • blonde71
    blonde71 Posts: 955 Member
    My calves are the same size as yours, lol. I actually do have really nice calf muscles (or so I've been told) and I do a lot of calf raises both seated and standing to work that muscle.
  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,010 Member
    sprints.....

    1670139_1727.jpg
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    You can have some of mine. My left calf is two inches bigger than my right, so help yourself :)

    Injury?
  • Razack541
    Razack541 Posts: 29
    Calf raises are great. If your calf is to weak to do them standing, you can do them sitting, and maybe adding weight to your leg to increase the difficulty until you can do them standing safely.
  • ilovedeadlifts
    ilovedeadlifts Posts: 2,923 Member
    I'm in the same boat.

    I never take the time to train them, there's a lot of more important areas that I usually focus on.
    But if I'm injured or have time for an extra workout I try to hit them a bit.
  • taylor5877
    taylor5877 Posts: 1,792 Member
    you'd probably have to do a significant amount of weight training and eating at a surplus to actually gain enough muscle to be noticeable.

    And you can do bodyweight/low weight calf raises till you're blue in the face and your body won't significantly build more muscle.

    It's just part of our genetics unfortunately.
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    sprints.....

    1670139_1727.jpg

    That's hot. I may not run anytime soon, but I will keep that pic in mind :)
  • Il_DaniD_lI
    Il_DaniD_lI Posts: 1,593 Member
    Stair running
  • hiddensvelte
    hiddensvelte Posts: 53 Member
    I do calf raises until they burn so bad i cant stand it. reps of about 100 :) good luck!

    +1 on that. Exercises the doc gave me after the achilles repair. Balance yourself in a doorway initially and do it on each foot. Also place the aerobic step pad there (or do this on the stairs) and stand on the ball of your foot so you get more movement. After a period, do it with weights.
  • IronmanPanda
    IronmanPanda Posts: 2,083 Member
    <--- No calf raises.
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    Calf raises are great. If your calf is to weak to do them standing, you can do them sitting, and maybe adding weight to your leg to increase the difficulty until you can do them standing safely.

    This helps.... I don't think I can even do a calf raise standing right now, tbh. But, i could throw weight on it while sitting, I hadn't thought of that.
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    I do calf raises until they burn so bad i cant stand it. reps of about 100 :) good luck!

    +1 on that. Exercises the doc gave me after the achilles repair. Balance yourself in a doorway initially and do it on each foot. Also place the aerobic step pad there (or do this on the stairs) and stand on the ball of your foot so you get more movement. After a period, do it with weights.

    Thank you! Doorway... another thing that never occurred to me. (Side note: Therapy was not ordered, which is why I'm asking the masses that are smarter than me) :blushing:
  • sl1ngsh0t
    sl1ngsh0t Posts: 326 Member
    I have huge calves. Take them, they're yours.
  • basillowe66
    basillowe66 Posts: 432 Member
    I would suggest walking as one way. and gradually jog lightly

    Basilas you get strenght there!!
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    I have huge calves. Take them, they're yours.


    I'd love to :)
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member

    if a woman have calves like this, I'd run away.

    There's no danger of that happening :P
  • dlwyatt82
    dlwyatt82 Posts: 1,077 Member
    sprints.....

    1670139_1727.jpg

    if a woman have calves like this, I'd run away.

    She would catch you, and eat you.
  • yo_andi
    yo_andi Posts: 2,178 Member
    Broken ankles... you're singing my song! I've broken both playing soccer and rugby and the recovery is never pretty!

    Here are some of the mobility exercises I did:

    1. In this one, specifically number 2a and 2b
    http://www.strengthcoach.com/public/1298.cfm

    2. This is one seems like a no-brainer but works really well!
    http://recoveryourstride.blogspot.com/2008/05/ankle-mobility-drills-can-they-improve.html

    3. This one is the big brother to 2a above:
    http://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?id=55368

    Good luck! Once you get your mobility back, run those sprints - they're the quickest way to fabulous legs!
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    120801-125741.jpg


    i have no idea how this happened. biking, running, lifting, walking, etc etc.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I bet your little leg will bounce right back to where it was in no time without any special treatment, now that you can use it again.

    Whatever you do, ease into it slowly. Walking on an incline, biking, strength training. I restarted C25K as soon as I got the ok to start running/jogging after my ankle injury.
  • MassiveDelta
    MassiveDelta Posts: 3,271 Member
    <--- No calf raises.

    ditto cycling and running...hill sprints
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    I bet your little leg will bounce right back to where it was in no time without any special treatment, now that you can use it again.

    Whatever you do, ease into it slowly. Walking on an incline, biking, strength training. I restarted C25K as soon as I got the ok to start running/jogging after my ankle injury.

    Do you have any guess on how long that was until you got the OK to run? You know how much these last two months have depressed me, sista... I can't wait to be able to do something. It looks like there's a damn toothpick stuck under my knee *LOL*
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    legs.jpg

    I think that these happened from running and calf raises!!!
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I bet your little leg will bounce right back to where it was in no time without any special treatment, now that you can use it again.

    Whatever you do, ease into it slowly. Walking on an incline, biking, strength training. I restarted C25K as soon as I got the ok to start running/jogging after my ankle injury.

    Do you have any guess on how long that was until you got the OK to run? You know how much these last two months have depressed me, sista... I can't wait to be able to do something. It looks like there's a damn toothpick stuck under my knee *LOL*

    Mine was just a little stress fracture, so I was only on the bench 6 weeks.
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    Broken ankles... you're singing my song! I've broken both playing soccer and rugby and the recovery is never pretty!

    Here are some of the mobility exercises I did:

    1. In this one, specifically number 2a and 2b
    http://www.strengthcoach.com/public/1298.cfm

    2. This is one seems like a no-brainer but works really well!
    http://recoveryourstride.blogspot.com/2008/05/ankle-mobility-drills-can-they-improve.html

    3. This one is the big brother to 2a above:
    http://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?id=55368

    Good luck! Once you get your mobility back, run those sprints - they're the quickest way to fabulous legs!


    ROCK ON, THANK YOU!!!! I needed the specifics!!
  • MeliJean78
    MeliJean78 Posts: 249
    12 weeks ago I began doing Sanding Calf Raises without weights. I have a bum left leg (sacral fracture from fall, back surgery, chronic sciatica).

    I used a telephone book, kept my knees straight and stiff but not locked. Raised onto the balls of my feet and squeezed, moving only at the ankles.

    + To work the inside of your calves, set your feet farther apart and rise up onto the inside balls of your feet.
    + To work the outside, set your feet in close and rise up on the outside balls of your feet.

    Now I am able to do weighted Standing Calf Raises at the gym. I'm up to 130 lbs ... which is freakin weak sauce, but I fought for this and I'm still gonna brag.

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