Science or Fiction? The Debate Over Stretched vs. Contracted Range Calf Raises

Matt had always struggled with calf raises. No matter how hard he tried, his calves didn’t seem to grow like the rest of his muscles. He heard people talking about two types of calf raises: those where you focus on stretching the calf at the bottom of the movement, and those where you focus on squeezing the muscle at the top. Everyone seemed to have an opinion, but Matt didn’t know which approach to choose. He wondered if either method actually worked.

One day, Matt decided to experiment. He started by doing the classic calf raises with a deep stretch at the bottom, holding for a second to feel the full extension. The next week, he focused on raising up as high as possible, squeezing at the top. He did both types of calf raises for a few weeks, pushing himself to failure each time.

To his surprise, Matt noticed his calves growing, but not in the way he expected. The stretch-focused raises helped him build flexibility, while the contracted ones gave him strength and size. He realized that both methods were beneficial in their own way. The science wasn’t about choosing one over the other, but about understanding that each has its unique role in building bigger, stronger calves. Matt was proud to have figured out the truth for himself. He now incorporated both techniques into his routine, knowing that balance and effort were key.