THE KEY TO building a strong, symmetrical physique comes down to focusing on body parts most people neglect. One spot typically overlooked (and improperly trained) than others: the calf muscles. If ...

The calf muscle is actually made up of two primary muscles: the gastrocnemius muscle and the soleus muscle. "The vast majority of injuries are to those two muscles," says Robert Gillanders, a ...

Many things play a role in losing weight. Eating healthier, strength training, and stretching can improve your overall health. Losing weight in your calves can be trickier, as burning fat is a ...

Those little muscles at the back of your lower leg do a lot of heavy lifting, research has shown. A 2017 review found that targeted calf strengthening not only increases muscle performance but also ...

Every step taken, every stretch made, a hidden muscle in the legs is hard at work. It doesn’t just help with balance or movement; it supports one of the body’s most vital systems, circulation. Experts ...

Roshini Raj, MD, is Health's former magazine's medical editor and coauthor of What the Yuck?!. Board-certified in gastroenterology and internal medicine, Dr. Raj is a Clinical Associate Professor of ...

We’ve all been there: You arrive at the top of a steep climb, and as good as getting to the summit feels, you’re plagued by the feeling that your calves are about to burst open. Your Achilles tendon ...

The calf muscles perform an essential cardiovascular support role that doctors describe as the “second heart. These muscles are called so, because they pump blood upward towards the heart. People with ...

A pulled or strained calf muscle refers to a strain in the two muscles at the back of your leg, the gastrocnemius and soleus. It usually takes three days for it to start feeling better, but full ...

Strong calf muscles propel you forward when walking and running, generate the explosive power needed for jumping, help maintain your balance and stability and protect your feet, ankles and knees from ...