Locking knees on calf raises

[Debaser]

Got into an argument with a personal trainer today, he was telling me that you shouldn't lock your knees when doing calf raises.

I said that if your knees bend, you're placing more of the stretch on the achilles tendon rather than the calves. You can test this out yourself by stretching your foot back both ways.

Am I right? I don't see why locking the knees would be bad. In fact, it seems like the proper way to do it.

 

[InTraining]

I don't fully lock them.....would say like 90-95% of full lockout...find it takes stress off the knee

 

[Tom Treutlein]

I never liked the idea of buckling my knees. Don't know why. I just find it uncomfortable.

 

[Debaser]

To me it seems safer, because by locking the knees you are effectively *not* loading them with weight, the load-bearing is transfered to the ankle. If your structure isn't dysfunctional it shouldn't be a problem.

But again, I could be wrong.

 

[casualbb]

Biomechanically, as the knee bends more weight shifts to the soleus, which typically bodybuilders don't like as much as the gastroc.

However, with respect to safety, I have no idea. I lock mine out just because if I don't they wobble all over the place, and that's probably even WORSE for my joints.

 

[kcpmeo22]

potato... pototo lol

 

[wnt2bBeast]

those damn calve machines dont hold enough weight anyway..
i tend to use a slight bend in the knee..

 

[Backlash]

I bend my knees slightly. Locking my knees always seems more dangerous to me, just stresses them more. But then my body is all fucked up, too.

 

[philipusmcr]

Biomechanically, as the knee bends more weight shifts to the soleus, which typically bodybuilders don't like as much as the gastroc.

When you bend your knees it works the "OTHER" calf muscle. There are 2 in each leg. One which is used dominantly when your knees are bent, and one when they are locked or nearly locked. When your knees are locked, the one which makes the more diamond look in the calf is worked. Just look at your calf muscles flexed during locked knee, and unlocked knee.