Why you need to build big and strong calf muscles

They might not feature high on the list of vanity muscles, and are surely behind the chest, abs, and the biceps when it comes to body-building. A 2008 study titled Calf Circumference Is Inversely Associated With Carotid Plaques studied over 6,000 participants to conclude that bigger calves meant fewer fatty deposits in arteries, which meant a lower risk of heart disease. While genetic makeup is always a factor in muscular potential, a recent study from our lab showed that the calves do indeed respond robustly to regimented resistance training; in fact, about as well as the other major muscles of the body,” says Brad Schoenfeld in a bodybuilding.com article titled Ask the Muscle Doc: Is Calf Development Purely a Function of Genetics? Know your calf muscles: The calves are made of mainly two components, the gastrocnemius and the soleus. Hit your calves early in your session, rather than at the end of a gruelling leg day which makes it difficult to even walk, let alone do some heavy calf raises.