Did you know your soleus muscle plays a huge role in running? At Trailblaze PT & Performance in Hendersonville, NC, we see many runners who need to strengthen this overlooked but important part of the calf.
The soleus helps control how your foot lands and pushes off the ground, especially when your knee is bent (think push off with running!). Weakness in this muscle can lead to injuries and reduce efficiency. To build strong, durable calves, add these exercises to your routine:
- Soleus Walk: Walk on your toes with slightly bent knees for 30 seconds. Rest and repeat 3 times. Add a weight if this is too easy.
- Seated Soleus Strength: Sit with your knees bent and feet flat. Push your toes down into the floor, lifting your heels as high as possible. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat for 10–12 reps.
- Foot Doming: Try “shortening” the arch of your foot without curling your toes. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat 10–15 times on each foot.
Strong soleus muscles, paired with good intrinsic foot strength, improve running mechanics and reduce the risk of injury. At Trailblaze PT & Performance, we help runners in Hendersonville, NC, stay strong and injury-free so they can hit their next PR.