Your calf muscles are often referred to as the 'second heart' because they play a crucial role in pumping blood around the body and supporting cardiovascular health.

Large muscles like the hamstrings and glutes tend to get all the glory on leg day, but don't sleep on a very important group of muscles: the calves. The largest and most visible part of the calf is ...

Strong calf muscles propel you forward when walking and running, generate the explosive power needed for jumping, help maintain your balance and stability and protect your feet, ankles and knees from ...

Every step taken, every stretch made, a hidden muscle in the legs is hard at work. It doesn’t just help with balance or movement; it supports one of the body’s most vital systems, circulation. Experts ...

The calf muscle is actually made up of two primary muscles: the gastrocnemius muscle and the soleus muscle. "The vast majority of injuries are to those two muscles," says Robert Gillanders, a ...

Roshini Raj, MD, is Health's former magazine's medical editor and coauthor of What the Yuck?!. Board-certified in gastroenterology and internal medicine, Dr. Raj is a Clinical Associate Professor of ...

Tight calf muscles may be the surprising culprit behind several discomforts like ankle, achilles, and forefoot pain, but using one of the best calf stretchers each day can really help. Whether you’re ...

The calf muscles run from the back of the knee to about halfway down the lower leg. Learning how to effectively stretch the calf muscles can help reduce tightness, soreness, and pain in these muscles.

Exercise pros reveal the best ways to walk to build muscle, plus the other perks you can get from incorporating walking into ...

For lower-body workouts from Stephanie Mansour routines — plus fitness challenges, walking podcasts, meal plans and inspiration — download the Start TODAY app! Large muscles like the hamstrings and ...