Bent-Knee Calf Stretch | Assisted stretch in 3D
Bent-Knee Calf Stretch: supine, soleus and ankle dorsiflexion. Preparation, 4 movement phases, points to check and cautions, with a 3D model you can pause and rotate.
Position and focus
Supine · Soleus and ankle dorsiflexion
An assisted stretch for the soleus and ankle dorsiflexion, observing contact, stabilisation and compensation separately.
Starting position
The client lies supine with the left hip and knee bent to 90 degrees. The trainer stands on the left side and supports the heel and the front of the sole.
Movement phases
1. Support the leg
Keep the knee bent and take the weight of the leg.
2. Flex the ankle
Draw the heel while pressing the front of the sole to flex the ankle.
3. Check the response
Check for a stretch in the lower part of the calf.
4. Return the ankle
Keep supporting the foot as you return the ankle.
What the trainer checks
Check that the knee angle is not changing and that the foot is not twisting.
Instructor information
Trainer position
Stand on the client's left (the side shown in the 3D) with your feet apart front to back, at a height that suits the table. Move by shifting your body weight rather than holding with the arms alone.
Contact and support
Cup the heel in the palm and press the front of the sole with the other hand.
Stabilisation
Keep the knee at about 90 degrees.
Compensation
Change in knee angle, twisting of the foot.
Easier option
Reduce the range and let the weight of the leg or arm rest on a cushion or the table. Go back to checking a pain-free starting position.
Cues and consent
Tell the client where you will touch and which way you will move, and say, 'Tell me straight away if you feel any pain or discomfort.' Confirm consent before touching and before moving.
Stop criteria
Return to the starting position immediately if the client reports sharp pain, numbness, weakness, a pinching feeling in the joint, dizziness, shortness of breath or anxiety, or asks to stop.
Caution
Work within your qualifications, contract and studio procedures, and check medical history, medication and any pain before starting. This is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. Do not perform unfamiliar techniques from the 3D alone.
These English notes describe a prototype model. Stretch and foam roller lessons have not yet been reviewed by the supervising instructors. They are not medical advice or an individual exercise prescription.
References and scope
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS — Stretching Exercises with Assistance ↗
For helpers: where to support and how to move the shoulder (raising and opening), elbow and wrist, double knee hug, knee rolls, inner thigh, front of the hip lying on the side, front and back of the thigh, and ankle.
