Standing Soleus And Achilles Stretch

What it is

This static stretch targets the deeper muscles of your lower leg. It primarily works to lengthen your soleus muscle and Achilles tendon, improving ankle dorsiflexion and overall calf flexibility. You will feel this stretch low in the calf, closer to the ankle. This exercise requires no equipment.

Technique tips

• Keep your back heel pressed firmly into the floor.
• Bend both knees deeply to properly isolate the soleus.
• You should feel the stretch low in your calf, not the hamstring.
• Maintain a comfortable forward lean with your torso.
• Hold the stretch for at least 20 to 30 seconds per side.
• Breathe deeply and relax your body into the stretch.

How to track your progress

Log the hold time of each set. Straddly keeps your best hold for this exercise and tells you when you beat it, so a two-second gain does not go unnoticed.