A review by James Shmagranoff

Triceps surae muscle hypertrophy is greater after standing versus seated calf-raise training. Frontiers in Physiology, Kinoshita, M. et al. (2023)

Introduction

The triceps surae, consisting of the gastrocnemius (medial and lateral heads) and soleus, plays a vital role in locomotion, balance, and athletic performance. Despite its significance, this muscle group is known to be relatively resistant to hypertrophic adaptation compared to other skeletal muscles. This challenge, combined with its propensity for atrophy during periods of inactivity, highlights the importance of optimized training strategies. In this regard, Kinoshita et al. (2023) investigated how muscle length during training affects hypertrophic outcomes in the triceps surae. Over a 12-week period, the study compared unilateral standing (knee-extended) and seated (knee-flexed) calf-raise tra…

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