Soleus

Other Names

• Calf
• Soleus

Heads

• Soleus

Movement

Ankle

• Plantar Flexion

Attachments

Origin

• Tibia (Upper Posterior)
• Fibula (Upper Posterior)

Insertion

• Calcaneous
  • Achilles Tendon

Related Muscles

• Gastrocnemius

Comments

In the seated calf raise (knees flexed approximately 90º), the gastrocnemius are virtually inactive while the load is borne almost entirely by the soleus. Also see dorsiflexion inflexibility.

In moderate force, the soleus is preferentially activated in the concentric phase, whereas the gastrocnemius is preferentially activated in the eccentric phase (Nardone & Schiepatti, 1988).

Also see Calf Exercise Analyses.