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Heel raise

Guidance

Rising onto the toes loads the calf, which is the muscle group that produces push-off in walking and that supplies the ankle strategy for standing balance.

Start this movement
2.5 to 3.0 m awayYou
Side onLens 0.3 to 0.5 m

Before you start

A session holds exercises. An exercise holds sets. Stop what a rule names and everything inside it.

  • Pain past 5 out of 10: stop the set.
  • Grab the support to stay upright: stop the set.
  • Calf cramp does not settle in the set: stop the exercise.

The movement

  1. Stand tall beside a bench or solid table.
  2. One or both hands on the support.
  3. Eyes ahead, fixed point.
  4. Feet shoulder width apart, pointing straight ahead.
  5. Knees straight, not locked.

  1. Come up onto the toes.
  2. Hold one second at the top.
  3. Lower the heels to the ground under control.
  4. Repeat without resting at the bottom.

ankle plantarflexion
No published number
Sets
1 to 2
Repetitions
10 to 20
Sessions a week
3 to 7
Down
2 seconds
Up
1 second
Pause at the top
1 second

Sets, repetitions and sessions: Test protocol, moderate confidence.