Flat Foot and calves exercises

Natan · Post by **Natan** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 6:19 am

Hi

I'm flat footed and thus when I try to train calves i always find the flat of foot hurting before I can give calves a good hitting..that's the reason why I stay away form calves exercises, foot base gives out before calves ;(

what should i do?

Boss Man · Post by **Boss Man** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 3:26 pm

Might be what you're wearing.

Wrong footware, possible problem.

swanso5 · Post by **swanso5** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 7:47 pm

why even bother with calves anyway???

you'd be lucky to put an inch on them in your lifetime without "assitance"

ericajones80 · Post by **ericajones80** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 10:03 am

Definitely take a look at your footwear. The previous post has a point as well. Your calves will build naturally through running and cardio, I wouldn't really worry about focusing on them.

Natan · Post by **Natan** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 5:40 am

Hi

Thnks for the advice ...Im a bit confused regarding calves training,,, r we saying that it's not point in doing calves exercises?...I have to use wisely the little time I have to go to the gym dont wanna be doing something if it's gonna waste time

I'm quite happy with quads ,,,it's hams and calves that are really lagging, i thought I needeed to bring calves up a little just to catch up bcos they're really skinny compared to upper legs.

Can I build calves with just upper legs exercises like squats and so on which kind of hit the claves in a secondary level?...is that enough?... and if so why r calves so skinny then?

footwear is just normal Nike running shoes quite comfortable, I can't imagine anything wrong with shoes... and if running shoes are not appropiate then what kind of shoes should I wear?

Since I was a kid I have been flatfooted...I used to wear then metallic things on legs as a child but foot stayed forever fkat ;-( ... I mean really flat flat flat as in flat!

perhaps there are some specialist shoes around that i could use?...(providing they dont cost more the earth)

many thanks everyone

swanso5 · Post by **swanso5** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 9:03 pm

- look you can train them but unless your really gonna hit them hard w/ high volume/intensity 5 times a week thus chewing a lot of your time than probably not...i don't rtrain them but mine are naturally big (not huge) but i have small joints (ankles/knees) so they really look bigger than they actually are (39cms)
- squats, deads and ecspecially o lifts where you rise onto your toes will do the trick
- best ham exercises are snatch grip deadlifts from a low step, glute ham raises, slide board leg curls, swissball hamstring curls, back leg elevated lunges, pistol squats
- genetically they're skinny
- when not running, jumping etc it's best to stay as close to thr floor as possible...nike free's, the ole chuck taylors etc
- you could get special shoes but yiour not really fixing the problem then...i'm not a foot expert but email eric cressey and he'll be ablev to help you

Natan · Post by **Natan** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 6:16 am

Thnks swanso5

I'm glad about the old chuck taylor's as is favourite shoeware of all times!... perhaps is bcos flat foot rests nicely in it. I wont really be getting any special footware at age, it was bad enough as a child, can u imagine the stick I would get form mates at work?...lol....lol

who is eric casseys?.. another member here?... Im sorry if im supposed to know who he is.. ;-(... but I would love the advice!

I will have a look at those hams moves u recomend.
On that note I was thinking that the romanian was the best for hams ...

I'm trying to master the romanian but I'm not there yet ... would u say that is best to stop before going all the way down in order to better hit the hams?

thnx

nitecrawler · Post by **nitecrawler** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:19 am

eric cressey is one of the author on t-nation.com

Natan · Post by **Natan** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 6:36 pm

thnx m8