Seated Calf Stretches

Your calf muscles, comprised of the soleus and the gastrocnemius, are important in your bipedal motion. You use them to walk, run and jump. As such integral muscles, they are prone to injury if not properly strengthened and stretched. If you participate in activities that use your calf muscles, stretching after a warm up and after heavy activity may be beneficial. If you are recovering from a calf injury, follow your physical therapist's recommendations for stretches.

Seated Calf Stretch

Begin by sitting on the ground or a mat with your legs extended in front of you. Bend your knees slightly and flex your feet. Lean forward and place your hands around the ball of your foot and pull gently so that your toes begin to point towards your body. Breathe normally and hold the pose for up to 20 seconds before releasing. Repeat on the other side.

Isometric Calf Stretch

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Isometric stretches involve working a muscle against an immovable force. To isometrically stretch your calf, begin in the same position as the above-mentioned stretch. Bend your legs and place your hands on the balls of your feet, using your hands to move your toes back towards your shin. Once you feel a stretch in your calf, try to point your toes forward, against the force of your hands. Provide enough force so that your feet do not actually move, but stay in place. Hold this position for up to 20 seconds before releasing.

Chair Calf Stretch

You can also perform a calf stretch while sitting in a chair at the office or at home. Sit towards the edge of the seat with your back straight and both legs bent, feet flat on the floor. Straighten your right leg, and put your heel on the floor. Flex your foot as much as possible, trying to bring your toes toward your shin. You can reach forward and pull on the ball of your foot, as in the above exercises. You can also lean your upper body forward, keeping your back straight, and move your torso toward your thigh while simultaneously keeping your foot flexed. This forward motion gives you a greater stretch in the back of your calf and thigh.

Achilles Tendon

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Although not technically a muscle, the Achilles tendon attaches the calf muscle group to your heel. As it is an integral part of your walking, running and jumping motions, targeting the Achilles when you stretch is also important. To stretch your Achilles, sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you. Bend one leg until your heel is close to your buttocks and place your heel on the ground. Use your hands to pull your toes, at the ball of the foot, toward your body. Hold for up to 20 seconds and repeat with the other tendon.