Barbell Seated Calf RaiseMuscles Worked
The barbell seated calf raise works your calves, mostly the soleus, because sitting with bent knees takes much of the gastrocnemius out of the movement. It does the job of a seated calf machine using just a bench, a block and a padded bar across your thighs.
PrimaryCalves
- Equipment
- Barbell
- Level
- Beginner
- Type
- Isolation
- Force
- Push
How to do it
- Put a sturdy block or a couple of stacked plates on the floor just ahead of a bench.
- Sit down with the front of both feet on the edge of the block and your heels hanging free.
- Rest a padded barbell across your lower thighs just above your knees, holding it in place with both hands or having a partner hand it to you.
- Lower your heels slowly until your calves are fully stretched.
- Push up onto your toes as high as you can, squeeze for a second, then lower again.
Form tips
- Wrap the bar in a pad or folded towel, since it sits right on your thighs.
- Keep your hands on the bar so it can't roll, but don't push down or pull up on it to change the load.
Why it made the list
No. 6 of 11
Best Calf Exercises
Barbell seated calf raise targets the soleus without a dedicated machine. Pad the bar for comfort.
More calf exercises
See it on your own body map
Log your Barbell Seated Calf Raise sets in KasMaker and watch your calves fill in on the map, weighted by how much you did. Logging and the body map are free on iPhone.
