Gastrocnemius and Soleus Muscle – Nicole Gillett

Gastrocnemius and Soleus Muscle – Nicole Gillett

The gastroc muscle is the big muscle of your calf which you can see and feel. This muscle has two heads that run from the back of the knee to the heel. When the two tendons come together at the heel, this forms the achilles tendon.

The gastroc muscle is primarily involved in running, jumping and both fast movements of the leg. The gastric muscle is one of the most common muscles to spasm.

The soles muscle runs from the back of the knee to the heel. It is located just under the gastroc muscle. These two muscles together make up the calf muscle or can be considered a part. The soles muscle is involved in standing and walking.

In the pictures below, the stretches are: The one on left is for the gastroc muscle and the one on the right is for the soleus muscle. Be sure to do both to get the most out of stretching out your calves and hold them for at least 30-45 seconds.