An exercise that involves lifting the body up onto the balls of the feet by contracting the calf muscles, then slowly lowering back down to strengthen the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles.
Compound from 'calf' (Old Norse 'kalfi' referring to the back of the leg) and 'raise' (Old Norse 'reisa'). The exercise has been performed since ancient times, with Greek athletes doing calf raises to improve jumping ability for the Olympics.
Your calf muscles are incredibly strong relative to their size - they can generate forces up to 8 times your body weight during sprinting, which is why calf raises are essential for athletes in explosive sports like basketball and track!
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