Benefits of Donkey calf raises & How to do them

Benefits of Donkey Calf Raises & How to Do them Properly

Anyone who has ever been involved in weight training or bodybuilding probably has at least one set of muscles that just didn’t give them the results they wanted, no matter how hard they pushed themselves, and the calves are probably one of these – one of the most notoriously difficult muscles to build.

They naturally resist muscle synthesis and can be a huge frustration for anyone trying to achieve muscular symmetry or just trying to add mass. Even Arnold Schwarzenegger, a bodybuilding legend, posed for some of his earlier pictures in knee-deep water to hide his calves.

Why is it so Difficult to Build Your Calves?

Many are quick to blame genetics for the lack of significant growth in their calves, and while there is some truth to this, one of the main reasons that people find it nearly impossible to add mass in this area is because they are treating them as an afterthought – something to be tacked onto the end of a workout.

Genetics

One of the muscle groups with the least androgen receptors, the anatomical configuration of the calf naturally resists hypertrophy. To understand why you need to know that the calf is made up of two main muscles: the gastrocnemius muscle that gives the calf its curved shape and the soleus – the long, flat muscle underneath gastrocnemius.

This is where genetics can come into play. The soleus muscle can be composed of up to 90% slow-twitch muscle fibers, which have roughly half the growth potential of fast-twitch fibers, meaning that the soleus has about half the capacity of other muscles, like the quads, to synthesize muscle protein after training. The gastrocnemius, on the other hand, is comprised of mostly fast-twitch fibers.

Improper Training

Your calf muscles are responsible for carrying your bodyweight whenever you walk and keeping you upright whenever you stand – they are active throughout the day and already quite developed, even in people who don’t train.

Arnold Schwarzenegger explains it best when he says, “Everyday you walk around. When you walk you are using your calves. You are pushing at least your body weight every time you take a step. So, when you go to the gym and workout your calves with light weight, are you really stressing your muscles?“

Extracting the maximum potential growth from your calf muscles requires a different type of intensity, correctly targeted movements, and heavy weight.

The Donkey Calf Raise

Though less popular and slightly more unknown than a regular calf raise, the donkey calf raise is nothing more than a calf raise done in a bent-forward position, with the body horizontal, at a 90-degree angle to the legs.

Why does it work?

Though strict muscular isolation, and activating a muscle without involving its synergists, is under normal loaded conditions is nearly impossible, passive tension allows for precise targeting of specific muscles.

Passive tension is achieved when a two-joint muscle such as the gastrocnemius is stretched at one joint while producing force at the other. Because the gastrocnemius crosses both the knee and ankle joints, putting a stretch on the hamstrings allows for a greater stretch on the calves.

Benefits of the Donkey Calf Raise

The donkey calf raises increases intensity and localization of force on the calves, and with the use of iEMG (used to record muscle activity), has shown to be more stimulating to the gastrocnemius than the traditional standing calf raise.

Through training the entire calf, the donkey calf raise places an emphasis on the gastrocnemius, the muscle which makes up the bulk of the calf and gives it the classic diamond shape.

Weight can also be added on your hips when you are in the bent-over position and is effective because the resistance is located directly over the hips rather than on the shoulders, offering a greater stretch and a more direct contraction.

How to Perform the Donkey Calf Raise

Donkey calf raises can be performed with or without weights, and without the use of the donkey calf raise machine, can be performed by supporting yourself on a bench, bending at the waist and having a training partner straddle your hips (like you would ride a horse or donkey).

1. Supporting yourself on a bench, bend until the upper body is completely horizontal to the legs, with the balls of your feet resting on a raised platform with your heels over-hanging.
2.  Have a partner straddle your back, positioned over your hips.
3. Bring your heels upwards by contracting the calf until peak contraction is reached, and pause at the top of the muscle contraction.
4. Slowly return your heels down, allowing them to descend slightly further than the level of the platform to provide a stretch.
5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Your partner can also hold dumbbells or a barbell to add weight.

The Donkey Calf Raise Machine

Probably one of the least-known machines in the gym, the donkey calf raise machine allows for the horizontal bend with a weighted cushioned pad for your lower back, as well as a raised platform.

Performing the donkey calf raise with the machine can be slightly easier, though is essentially the same.

1. Set the pin to the correct weight, and adjust the pad to the correct height.
2. Bend the torso forward and position your hip and lower back underneath the pad, holding the handles for support.
3. Place the balls of your feet on the edge of the raised platform with your heels over-hanging.
4. Bring your heels upwards by contracting the calf until peak contraction is reached, and pause at the top of the muscle contraction.
5. Slowly return your heels down, allowing them to descend slightly further than the level of the platform to provide a stretch.
6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Pro Tips:

• Contract your calves at the peak of the extension.
• Drop your heels as far as possible to achieve the maximum stretch.
• Keep your legs straight throughout the movement to target the gastrocnemius muscle, or bend your knees slightly to target the soleus.

Conclusion

Though genetics do play a small role in the development of your calf muscles, proper targeting of the muscles with the right movement, frequency, and load can drastically improve their growth. If you enjoyed this article, you might also like our guide on calf machines.

About the AuthorDumbbellsgeek

Hey! My name is Paul Sheldon. I live in Nashville, TN and I love all things related to sports. Naturally I love workking out and I do it every day. If you want to talk feel freee to hit me a message or if you happen to be in Nashville we can get a coffee, I know a great place. Peace!