Calf raise standing with barbell

Raise the heels by pressing through the forefoot and aim for a clear calf contraction. Lower slowly into a comfortable ankle dorsiflexion. Use a steady tempo: control the return phase in particular and avoid relying on momentum. Exhale through the hardest part and inhale as you recover the starting position.

Check that the movement stays stable in both directions and that the torso is not compensating. The goal is controlled loading of calves; match resistance and range to a intermediate level and never force a painful repetition.