Muscles / Lower legs
Soleus
- Lower legs
- Leg & ankle
- Intermediate layer
Part of Triceps surae.
Anatomy
- Origin
- Posterior head and upper fibula, soleal line and medial border of the tibia, tendinous arch
- Insertion
- Posterior calcaneus via the calcaneal tendon
- Nerve
- Tibial nerve (S1-S2)
Actions
- Plantarflexes the ankle regardless of knee position
- Steadies the leg on the foot in standing (postural)
Exercises that train it most
Eccentric heel drop (Alfredson)
Standing calf raise (knee straight)
Bent-knee (seated) calf raise
Wall calf stretch
Also trained by
Notes
- Soleus activity is similar with the knee straight or bent; bent-knee raises reduce the gastrocnemius share.
References (5)
- Hébert-Losier K, Schneiders AG, García JA, Sullivan SJ, Simoneau GG. J Strength Cond Res. 2012;26(11):3124-3133. Influence of knee flexion angle and age on triceps surae muscle activity during heel raises
- Standring S, ed. Elsevier. Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 42nd ed.
- Dalley AF, Agur AMR. Wolters Kluwer. Moore's Clinically Oriented Anatomy. 9th ed.
- Neumann DA. Elsevier. Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System: Foundations for Rehabilitation. 3rd ed.
- Betts JG, Young KA, Wise JA, et al. OpenStax (free, openly licensed textbook). Anatomy and Physiology 2e