Our calf muscles are integral to our ability to do just about any movement. They both absorb impact and power our steps. It’s no surprise then that our calf muscles can often get sore and tight. So let’s talk about some great calf stretches for runners!
When it comes to post-run cool downs, it can be easy to forget about our calves. They’re not overly large muscles and we often focus more on our quads, hamstrings, and glutes. However, having healthy, strong, and flexible calf muscles is important for a number of reasons.
Let’s take some time to learn more about our calves, including how they work, why it’s important to stretch them, and some of my favorite stretches to do post-run.
What Do Our Calf Muscles Do?
The calf is made up of two muscles, the gastrocnemius and the soleus. These two muscles insert into our achilles tendon. Together they help our foot flex and point, also known as dorsiflexion and plantarflexion.
When we run, they also act as both shock absorbers for each landing and help us power and propel forward into that next stride. The power our calves provide also helps with our speed.
Why Should We Stretch Our Calves?
As we’ve established, basically every time we move we use our calves. As runners, we put them under even more strain than just the…
