How to do the Dumbbell Calf Raise
Step by step
- Hold a dumbbell in each hand at your sides and stand tall, ideally with toes on a plate.
- Keep your knees straight and let your heels lower for a stretch.
- Rise up onto your toes as high as you can.
- Pause at the top, then lower your heels slowly under control.
The thing people get wrong
Move only at the ankles with the knees straight - control the descent for a full stretch rather than bouncing at the bottom.
Coaching cue
Keep the dumbbells hanging still at your sides so you cannot sway to help the lift.
Make it easier or harder
- Harder: Do one leg at a time holding a single dumbbell in that hand.
Muscles worked
- Primary: Calves
Daily Coach builds this into a real weekly plan. It picks the exercises for your equipment and experience, swaps around injuries you tell it about, and tracks what you actually lifted.