Donkey Calf Raises

CalvesOtherIntermediateIsolation
Donkey Calf Raises — start position
Start
Donkey Calf Raises — finish position
Finish
Muscles worked
PrimaryCalves

How to do it

  1. 01

    For this exercise you will need access to a donkey calf raise machine. Start by positioning your lower back and hips under the padded lever provided. The tailbone area should be the one making contact with the pad.

  2. 02

    Place both of your arms on the side handles and place the balls of your feet on the calf block with the heels extending off. Align the toes forward, inward or outward, depending on the area you wish to target, and straighten the knees without locking them. This will be your starting position.

  3. 03

    Raise your heels as you breathe out by extending your ankles as high as possible and flexing your calf. Ensure that the knee is kept stationary at all times. There should be no bending at any time. Hold the contracted position by a second before you start to go back down.

  4. 04

    Go back slowly to the starting position as you breathe in by lowering your heels as you bend the ankles until calves are stretched.

  5. 05

    Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

In the app

Donkey Calf Raises appears when you own the kit it needs and the day's window has room for it. Loads come from Rule 3 (Loads rise when earned, read from RPE, graded strong) and climb on the reps you actually did.

If a machine is taken the engine swaps a same-pattern movement and says why.

If you don't have the kit it needs

Same movement pattern, same primary muscles — swap by what you have.

With machine
With barbell
With dumbbell
With bands

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