what are the muscles used in a standing calf raise exercise
The Muscles Worked During Calf Raises. Calf raises target the muscles on the back of your lower legs. Photo Credit fatchoi/iStock/Getty Images. The calf raise exercise targets the muscles on the back of your lower legs that facilitate plantar flexion, or ankle extension. These muscles contract to lift your heels off the floor during the upward-movement phase of the exercise, and to control the speed of movement during the downward movement phase.