This is Why Your Calves WON’T Grow!

If you want bigger calves then you have to watch this.

The calf muscles are one of the most stubborn muscle groups of the legs to grow. This isn’t really because of the muscle fiber type distribution that is most present in the calves or even about the amount of volume that they incur on a daily basis. This is mostly due to the fact that the calf muscle itself is rarely being subjected to the stresses that are necessary to make them grow.

This is because of the achilles tendon.

This tendinous attachment of the calf is built to handle high load, ballistic stretch movements under the weight of your entire body. For example, when you’re running, your body has to be able to absorb the ground and have good propulsion capabilities to move you through space one foot in front of the other.

If your calf workouts consist of lots of bouncing repetitions then you are only adding to the same stress that the calves are already built for.

In order to create a unique stress that is felt almost 100% by the calf muscle instead you need to slow down your reps - dramatically.

At the top of every calf raise be sure to hold for a count of 4 seconds. From here, lower all the way down to the bottom stretch position and most importantly here, hold for 4 more seconds. It is in this lower stretch hold position that you will remove the ballistic stretch reflex and force the gastroc to do more of the work to lift you out of the hole.

Start slowing down your repetitions greatly, even at the expense of fewer repetitions performed, and I promise you that your calves will start growing and you will never again have to wonder why your calves just won’t grow.

For more tips on how to build muscle and get big calves, be sure to stay tuned to this channel and remember to subscribe so that you never miss another video from a physical therapist with a pro sports background as a PT and strength coach.

Jeff Cavaliere MSPT, CSCS served as both the head physical therapist and assistant strength coach for the New York Mets. Jeff earned his Masters of Physical Therapy and Bachelor’s of Physioneurobiology from the College of Health Sciences University of Connecticut Storrs. He is a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

[LC]

They don’t call him Jeff Calfalere for nothing

[jonnyincognito]

Hmmm, have we ever seen Jeff's calves 🤔

[nikgill]

I did this six months ago and my calves are really defined now, def hold for 4 seconds!! 💪🏽

[ConsciousAether]

I felt violated when Jeff palmed that dudes calf.

[nawdog]

Yo man, have give ya props, ever since I've been doing all your workouts, gotten cut and huge . No wonder everyone turns to you!!!!
Again thanks !!! You rock

[jamesfeldman]

Believe it or not, Arnold Schwarzenegger's calves were once his weakest body part because he was doing the "bouncing" routine that Jeff is specifically advising against. He didn't really feel the calves being worked, which was essential for progress. Of course, Arnie changed all that, and the rest is history.

[BR.]

Or run on your toes rather than on your heels.
Much less impact on your ankle and knee joints AND your calves, hamstrings, and adductor muscles will be sore like they were never before.

[jasonwright]

Calves are genetic. You either got em or you don’t

[janetatuniquerawfoods]

Yeah. You two laughed at working calv s. Since doing it frequently… correctly…I find much more strength … for example through the posterior chain… right into the glutes. If you want…Try a week of a 15 minute ballet barre workout… I saw big results there too. Thank you.

[brandonpoole]

Jeff is just trolling at this point, but yes. Full extension, pause, controlled contraction, a pulse or two up top, then repeat. Overtraining calves is practically impossible, so I hit them between sets vs just standing around. Curls > calves. Bench press > calves. Deadlift > calves. On leg day I hit them with heavy weight using a smith machine. On bs days as an auxiliary exercise I use a seated calf-raise. Calves are stubborn but they will grow.

[palnagok]

Start with your calf then work your way up to the whole cow...😊

[PeaceIsYeshua]

So isometrics would probably be great for building calves then!

[danielnoonan]

Thought you guys didn't train calfs. Lol

[FNHot]

I'd tried everything for calves, even this, doesnt work. I've only recently found a way to make them grow, based on the studies Jeffy Nips talked about. You want to only do the lower end of the calf raise, stretch the muscle as much as you can, come back to neutral, go back down. Your calves are amazing at contracting, but they RARELY get stretched and have to work in the toes up position, THAT is where you'll get the muscle damage you need to stimulate growth.

[certified_boogeyman]

i jump rope which is all bouncing and my calves are bigger than jeff's

[SnatchnHalos]

I humble myself in Jesus' Holy name, brother. You just taught me something small but significant. Ty.

[Smokeybuhda]

I heard recently they said half down half up was the best. Top and bottom range was wasted effort.

[albertespinoza]

Funny how his last video him n Jesse said "who trains calves."They both better get to it

[oscardelatorre]

Y así aplica para cualquier ejercicio del Gym, tiene que ser lento, gracias x los videos

[DanielReyes-hzqk]

Bottom 2/3rds range of motion calf raises with heavier than usual weight have really helped my calves start to grow, especially when combined with slow eccentric and a hold in the stretched position at the bottom