In agreement, Reid et al. (2011) compared eccentric
plantar flexion with the knee fully extended and during a flexed position and reported superior gastrocnemius muscle activity during
plantar flexion with full knee extension and no difference in soleus muscle activity.
Therefore, it appears that during dynamic plantarflexion with an extended knee position preferentially targets the gastrocnemius, while performing
plantar flexion with a flexed knee preferentially targets the soleus muscle.
Plantar flexion with a resistance band is a gentle exercise to start with.
Not exact matches
Moment arm lengths increase linearly
with increasing
plantar -
flexion.
The gastrocnemius also acts as a weak knee flexor, and is capable of producing its greatest
plantar -
flexion moment
with the knee extended.
Moment arm length increases linearly
with plantar -
flexion.
Comparing the effects of squats
with different stance widths, Escamilla et al. (2001a) did not report actual peak ankle
plantar flexion angles, but they did report more heavily - angled shanks in narrow stance squats compared to wide stance squats.
Performing
plantar -
flexion exercises
with an extended knee position, including dorsiflexed positions and faster speeds appears beneficial for training the gastrocnemius.
Performing
plantar -
flexion with a bent knee position and slower speeds appears beneficial for training the soleus.
Restrictions in the superficial front line are seen
with forward head posture, anterior pelvic shift and tilt, knee hyperextension, breathing restrictions in the anterior ribs, and ankle
plantar flexion limitation (11).