Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced, if you’re looking for the best calisthenics exercises to train your lower body, you’ve come to the right place.
From basic to advanced, I’ve shared as many as 20 best calisthenics leg exercises in this article that will help you improve your strength, power, endurance, balance, and flexibility.
Depending on your fitness level, you can pick different exercises and include them in your workout program.
You can do the lower body calisthenics exercises anywhere at any time because they require no additional equipment, only your own body weight, a workout bench for some movements, and a little space where you can hop and lie down.
Okay! So, let’s look at the exercises and how to do them step by step.
Also Read: Calisthenics Exercises List for each Muscle Group
Calisthenics Leg Workout for Beginners
- Wall Sits
- Standard Squat
- Lateral Lunges
- Step-up
- Glute Bridge
- Standing Calf Raises
1. Wall Sits

| Muscles Worked | Focus | Suggested Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Quads and Glutes | Strength and Balance | 6-8 |
Wall sits are a low-impact exercise. It improves legs and abdominal endurance and builds lower-body strength for other calisthenics exercises.1 Cho M. The effects of modified wall squat exercises on average adults’ deep abdominal muscle thickness and lumbar stability. J Phys Ther Sci. 2013 Jun;25(6):689-92. doi: 10.1589/jpts.25.689. Epub 2013 Jul 23. PMID: 24259831; PMCID: PMC3804993.
Studies have also shown that isometric exercises, such as wall squats, help lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure and enhance your cardiovascular health.2 Exercise training and resting blood pressure: a large-scale pairwise and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials – British Journal of Sports Medicine
Follow these steps to perform a wall sit correctly:
- Sit against the wall with your back and glutes resting on it.
- Keep your feet hip to shoulder width apart and ensure your chest is up.
- Brace your abs and stay in that position for 10 to 60 seconds.
2. Standard Squat

| Muscles Worked | Focus | Suggested Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Quads | Strength | 15-20 x 3 |
The bodyweight squat is a basic exercise for strengthening lower-body muscles, including the quadriceps and glutes.3 Escamilla RF. Knee biomechanics of the dynamic squat exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001 Jan;33(1):127-41. doi: 10.1097/00005768-200101000-00020. PMID: 11194098, 4Lee JH, Kim S, Heo J, Park DH, Chang E. Differences in the muscle activities of the quadriceps femoris and hamstrings while performing various squat exercises. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2022 Jan 21;14(1):12. doi: 10.1186/s13102-022-00404-6. PMID: 35063016; PMCID: PMC8783452.
It helps build muscles, reduce body fat percentage, and improve overall functional and cardiovascular fitness.5 Wei W, Zhu J, Ren S, Jan YK, Zhang W, Su R, He L. Effects of progressive body-weight versus barbell back squat training on strength, hypertrophy and body fat among sedentary young women. Sci Rep. 2023 Aug 19;13(1):13505. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-40319-x. PMID: 37598268; PMCID: PMC10439966.
The bodyweight squats involve the following steps:
- Stand upright in the shoulder-width stance with your feet pointing slightly out.
- Keep your back straight and chest up, and lower into a squat position until your thighs are parallel to the floor.
- You can go down as deep as you like as long as you maintain the proper form.
- Perform 15-20 reps controlled, feeling the contraction in your glutes & quads.
3. Lateral Lunges

| Muscles Worked | Focus | Suggested Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Quads, Hams, & Glutes | Strength, Balance, & Flexibility | 10-12 x 3 |
Lateral lunges are a great exercise to improve your hip and thigh strength. They also help you work on your balance, core stability, and coordination.
It’s a perfect exercise for beginners as it helps strengthen your legs and prepare you for more advanced lower body exercises.
How to:
- Stand upright with your feet together and arms bent in front of your chest.
- Keep your right foot flat on the floor and your knee straight, and take your left foot out to the side as far as possible.
- Pushing your hips back, bend your left knee to lower your body until your glute is parallel to the floor. Your right foot should remain planted on the floor.
- Pressing your left foot, extend your knee, and return to the start. That’s your one rep.
- Perform an equal number of reps and sets on each side.
4. Step-up
| Muscles Worked | Focus | Suggested Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Quads, Hams, & Glutes | Strength and Endurance | 10-12 x 3 |
The step-up is a unilateral exercise, involving placing one foot on the box or bench, then getting up. This exercise builds strength in the thighs and glutes and improves balance and flexibility.6 Simenz CJ, Garceau LR, Lutsch BN, Suchomel TJ, Ebben WP. Electromyographical analysis of lower extremity muscle activation during variations of the loaded step-up exercise. J Strength Cond Res. 2012 Dec;26(12):3398-405. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182472fad. PMID: 22237139.
Step-up movements like stair climbing and chair rise help improve muscle power and functional ability as well as prevent age-related health conditions such as sarcopenia in older women.7M Mair JL, De Vito G, Boreham CA. Low Volume, Home-Based Weighted Step Exercise Training Can Improve Lower Limb Muscle Power and Functional Ability in Community-Dwelling Older Women. J Clin Med. 2019 Jan 4;8(1):41. doi: 10.3390/jcm8010041. PMID: 30621121; PMCID: PMC6352105
So, if your goal is to improve strength, balance, and pliability, the step up should be in your calisthenics training program.
Follow the steps to perform a step-up easily:
- Stand upright against a box or a flat bench.
- Step your right foot onto the box, then your left.
- Once you stand on the box, return your legs one by one to the standing position. That’s your one rep. Perform 6-8 reps per side.
- Keep your chest up and maintain a flat back during the entire movement.
5. Glute Bridge

| Muscles Worked | Focus | Suggested Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Glutes and Hips | Strength and Mobility | 10-12 x 3 |
The Glute bridge is a great exercise to strengthen your backside. It also reinforces other muscles, such as hamstrings, abdominals, hips, and lower back.
It is suitable for beginners as it is low impact, easy to perform, and requires no equipment; you can do it anywhere, anytime.
If your goal is to get bigger glutes and you want to perform hip thrust, perform more glute bridges to bolster your base.8 Çabuk S, İnce İ. The Acute Effects Of Hip Thrust and Glute Bridge Exercises With Different Loads on Sprint Performance and Horizontal Force-Velocity Profile in Adolescent Soccer Players: A Post-Activation Performance Enhancement Approach. Eur J Sport Sci. 2025 Feb;25(2):e12255. doi: 10.1002/ejsc.12255. PMID: 39832164; PMCID: PMC11745155.
Steps to perform the glute bridge:
- Lie on your back with your face up, knees bent, and feet flat on the floor.
- Brace your core and glutes, and thrust your hips upward as high as possible.
- Pause for a moment, and then lower your hips to the floor. This is your one rep.
6. Standing Calf Raise
| Muscles Worked | Focus | Suggested Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Calves | Strength and Mobility | 15 x 3 |
The standing calf raise is an isolation leg exercise that particularly strengthens the gastrocnemius and the soleus (Triceps surae). It’s good for building sturdy legs and increasing mass in the lower legs.9 Kinoshita, M., Maeo, S., Kobayashi, Y., Eihara, Y., Ono, M., Sato, M., Sugiyama, T., Kanehisa, H., & Isaka, T. (2023). Triceps surae muscle hypertrophy is greater after standing versus seated calf-raise training. Frontiers in Physiology, 14, 1272106. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2023.1272106, 10Kassiano W, Costa B, Kunevaliki G, Soares D, Zacarias G, Manske I, Takaki Y, Ruggiero MF, Stavinski N, Francsuel J, Tricoli I, Carneiro MAS, Cyrino ES. Greater Gastrocnemius Muscle Hypertrophy After Partial Range of Motion Training Performed at Long Muscle Lengths. J Strength Cond Res. 2023 Sep 1;37(9):1746-1753. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004460. Epub 2023 Apr 3. PMID: 37015016, 11Lee, Geoncheol & Kim, Bom & Kim, Jisu & Nam, Inseong & Park, Yoojin & Shin, Woojin & Woo, Sumin & Cha, Seongki. (2014). The Effect of Calf-Raise Exercise on Gastrocnemius Muscle Based on Other Types of Supports. Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine. 2. 10.15268/ksim.2014.2.1.109.
You can perform calf raises anywhere you like, but doing it with the support of a standing object, such as the wall, improves balance and enhances walking performance in people with intermittent claudication.12 Van Schaardenburgh, M., Wohlwend, M., Rognmo, Ø., & Mattsson, E. (2017). Calf raise exercise increases walking performance in patients with intermittent claudication. Journal of Vascular Surgery, 65(5), 1473-1482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvs.2016.12.106, 13Ema R, Ohki S, Takayama H, Kobayashi Y, Akagi R. Effect of calf-raise training on rapid force production and balance ability in elderly men. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2017 Aug 1;123(2):424-433. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00539.2016. Epub 2017 Jun 1. PMID: 28572499; PMCID: PMC5583613.
Steps to perform the standing calf raises:
- Stand against the wall, take your arms out, and place your palms on the wall.
- Slightly lean forward while maintaining a neutral spine.
- Brace your thighs and lift your heels off the floor as high as possible so you can feel the stretch in your calf muscles.
- Lower your heels back on the floor and repeat for the desired number of times.
Intermediate Calisthenics Exercises for Legs
- Jump Squat
- Bulgarian Split Squat
- Reverse Lunge
- Curtsy Lunges
- Glute Kickback
- Back and Forth Lunges
- Jumping Split Lunges
- Elevated Glute Bridge
7. Jump Squat
| Muscles Worked | Focus | Suggested Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Body | Strength, Power, & Endurance | 10-12 x 3 |
Jumping squats are a strength and endurance-building exercise. They are fast and great for developing explosive power.14 Rossetti ML, Munford SN, Snyder BW, Davis SE, Moir GL. The Effects of Multiple Sets of Squats and Jump Squats on Mechanical Variables. J Strength Cond Res. 2020 Apr;34(4):1017-1023. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000002009. PMID: 28759537.
They burn decent calories in a short time and can be a good addition to fat-loss training.
The jump squat not only builds power and endurance but also improves balance, an important fitness skill you need in calisthenics and various other sports activities.15 Paul, Jibi & Kumar, Sharmilaa. (2018). Comparative Effect of Squat Jump and Split Jump Exercise on Dynamic Balance among Female Netball Players. International Journal of Physiotherapy. 5. 10.15621/ijphy/2018/v5i2/170742
The Jump Squats involve the following steps:
- Start in a standing position with your feet shoulder-width apart and arms bent in front of your chest.
- Lower into a partial squat (do not let your hips go below your knees) and then jump explosively as high as you can. Your arms will swing back as you jump.
- Land softly on the floor and repeat for the desired number of reps and sets.
8. Bulgarian Split Squat

| Muscles Worked | Focus | Suggested Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Body | Strength, Balance, & Stretching | 10 reps per side x 3 |
The Bulgarian split squat is a single leg hip dominant exercise. It strengthens the quads, glutes, and hamstrings and builds strength and mobility in the lower body.16 Mackey ER, Riemann BL. Biomechanical Differences Between the Bulgarian Split-Squat and Back Squat. Int J Exerc Sci. 2021 Apr 1;14(1):533-543. doi: 10.70252/CIYT8956. PMID: 34055144; PMCID: PMC8136570, 17Targeted muscle activation in Bulgarian split squat variations: effects of trunk position and suspension-based execution – BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation
It also allows you to work more on your weaker side and helps improve muscle imbalance.
Step-by-Step Instructions for performing the Bulgarian Split Squat:
- Standing upright behind a flat workout bench, lift your right leg off the floor and place the top of your rear foot on a bench behind you.
- Keep your torso upright and brace your abdominal muscles. That’s the starting position.
- Bend your knees to lower into a squat until your rear knee comes close to the ground.
- Pressing through your leading foot, extend your knee. That’s one rep.
9. Reverse Lunge
| Muscles Worked | Focus | Suggested Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Body | Strength and Mobility | 10-12 x 3 |
The reverse lunge is a variation of the classic lunge. The difference is that you will step back with one leg instead of forward during this movement.
It’s an excellent exercise for improving balance and stability and bolstering your quadriceps, hamstrings, and glute muscles.18 Hoogenboom, B.J.; Ferguson, M.; Krauss, Z.; Tran, S. The Reverse Lunge: A Descriptive Electromyographic Study. Appl. Sci. 2024, 14, 11480. https://doi.org/10.3390/app142411480
How to perform Reverse Lunges:
- Start upright with your feet together.
- Step back to your right leg, landing on the ball of your foot, and bend both your knees until the right knee almost touches the ground (or just below).
- Push off from your front foot to return to the standing position.
- Keep your core tight, chest up, and shoulders slightly down during the movement.
10. Curtsy Lunges
| Muscles Worked | Focus | Suggested Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Body | Strength and Mobility | 10-12 x 3 |
The curtsy lunge is a modified lunge variation that involves keeping your legs slightly crossed. It places decent stress on the adductors and glutes as well as engages the quads and hamstrings.19 A COMPREHENSIVE COMPARISON OF KINEMATIC, EMG, AND GROUND REACTION FORCE ACTIVITY DURING 5 DIFFERENT LUNGING TECHNIQUES – THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY SCHREYER HONORS COLLEGE
This exercise also keeps the abdominal muscles engaged throughout and enhances core endurance.
If your goal is to strengthen your legs and build mobility at the same time, the curtsy lunges should be in your arsenal.
Step-by-step instructions to do it:
- Stand straight, feet together.
- Take a big step back and across with one foot (like you’re doing a little curtsy bow)
- Drop your back knee almost to the floor, and front knee bends but stays over your foot.
- Push hard with the front leg to stand back up.
- Squeeze your butt when you’re standing.
- Do all reps on one leg, then switch and repeat the same.
11. Glute Kickback
| Muscles Worked | Focus | Suggested Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Gutes, Lower Back, and Core | Strength and Mobility | 10-12 x 3 |
If you want to strengthen your glutes while increasing the stability of your core and lower back muscles, then the glute kickback is for you.
The glute kickback is convenient and easy to execute. It engages all the lower body muscles except the quadriceps.20 The impact of resistance training on gluteus maximus hypertrophy: a systematic review and meta-analysis – Frontiers in Physiology
It is suitable for all fitness enthusiasts and can be a good addition to the lower-body calisthenics workout.
How to do it:
- Sit on all fours with your arms straight underneath your shoulders and knees below your hips.
- Maintain a neutral spine position and brace your abdominal muscles.
- Lift your right knee off the floor and kick your leg upward until you feel the contraction in your glutes.
- Pause for a couple of seconds and return your knee to the floor.
- Perform the desired reps and switch to the left side.
12. Back and Forth Lunges
| Muscles Worked | Focus | Suggested Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Body | Strength, Endurance & Mobility | 8-10 per leg x 3 |
The back-and-forth lunges are more challenging than the standard ones because they are fast and require more stability and balance.
It is a great exercise for strengthening your legs, hips, and glutes and enhancing athletic fitness.
Try this variation to get maximum results once you get bored with traditional lunges.
Instructions to perform the back-and-forth lunges:
- Stand straight with your feet together and hands against your chest.
- Step forward and lunge until your rear knee touches the ground. That’s a front lunge.
- Push back, straighten your knees, and bring your front foot back (to go in reverse lunge) and perform a lunge.
- Repeat 6-8 times, do the same with the opposite leg.
13. Jumping Split Squat
| Muscles Worked | Focus | Suggested Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Body | Strength, Speed, & Endurance | 8-10 per leg x 3 |
Jumping split squats are an explosive leg exercise you can include in your calisthenics training. It engages all muscles throughout the lower body and makes your legs strong and athletic.
It also improves endurance and mobility, and builds your fitness for performing other lower-body calisthenics exercises.21 THE UNDERVALUED LUNGE – JONI BOYD, PHD, CSCS, AND KATY MILTON, MS, NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association)
Steps to perform jumping split lunges:
- Stand straight with your feet together, head high, and chest up.
- Jump your feet off the floor and land into a lunge position with your knees bent and close to the floor.
- Again, jump back and drop into the lunge position on your opposite side.
- Perform as fast as you can while maintaining proper form.
14. Elevated Glute Bridge
| Muscles Worked | Focus | Suggested Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Glute and Hamstring | Strength and Mobility | 8-12 x 3 |
The elevated glute bridge is an excellent exercise to strengthen the glutes and hamstrings. It also improves hip stability, which can help prevent lower back pain and other injuries.
The elevated glute bridge involves the following:
- Lie supine on the floor in front of an elevated object, such as a flat bench.
- Lift your feet and place the heels on the bench. Keep your arms straight at your sides. This is your starting position.
- Brace your abdominal and glute muscles and lift your hips off the floor until they are aligned with your knees.
- Pause for a moment, and then return your hips to their original position. That is your one rep.
Lower Body Advanced Calisthenics Exercises
- Pistol Squat
- Knee Jump
- Skater Squats
- Archer Squats
- Sissy Squats
- Single Leg RDL To Reverse Lunge
15. Pistol Squat

| Muscles Worked | Focus | Suggested Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Body | Strength, Balance & Flexibility | 8-10 x 3 |
The pistol squat is a unilateral leg exercise, meaning you perform the squat on one leg. It strengthens various muscles throughout the lower body, including the hamstrings, quadriceps, hips, and gluteal muscles.
It also engages the core and helps improve body awareness.
Step-by-step guide to perform Pistol Squat:
- Stand straight with your feet hip-width apart.
- Keep your hands in front of your chest with your elbows bent.
- Lift your right leg off the floor and bring it in front of you as you lower into a squat position.
- When your glute is parallel to the floor, pause for a moment, and then push through your heel to get back into the standing position.
- Keep your core muscles engaged throughout the movement.
16. Kneeling Jump
| Muscles Worked | Focus | Suggested Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Body | Strength, Balance & Speed | 8-10 x 3 |
The kneeling squat jump is an explosive exercise that is great for developing power, endurance, and athletic performance while targeting quads, glutes, hamstrings, calves, and core.
How to perform a kneeling squat jump:
- Standing on your knees, jump in the air with your arms swinging back.
- Land on your feet in the squat position.
- Extend your knees to stand upright.
- Stand on your knees again and repeat for the desired number of times.
17. Skater Squat (Single-Leg Squat)
| Muscles Worked | Focus | Suggested Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Legs | Strength, Balance & Pliability | 8-10 x 3 |
The skater squat is an excellent exercise to improve your balance, body awareness, and flexibility, as well as to strengthen your lower extremities.
Research has shown that unilateral skater squat strengthens the hamstring, calf, hip, and abdominal muscles without putting much stress on your lower back. It can also be used as a rehabilitation exercise to treat low back pain.22 Eliassen W, Saeterbakken AH, van den Tillaar R. COMPARISON OF BILATERAL AND UNILATERAL SQUAT EXERCISES ON BARBELL KINEMATICS AND MUSCLE ACTIVATION. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2018 Aug;13(5):871-881. PMID: 30276019; PMCID: PMC6159498.
The skater squat involves the following steps:
- Stand upright on your right leg, bend your left knee, and keep your arms straight before you.
- Pushing your hips back, lower into a squat position in a controlled manner until your left knee touches the floor, and then return to the starting position.
- Your back should remain flat and core tight during the entire movement.
18. Archer Squat
| Muscles Worked | Focus | Suggested Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Legs | Strength, Balance & Pliability | 10 per leg x 3 |
The archer squat is another excellent strengthening and mobility exercise. It reinforces various muscles simultaneously, such as the thigh and hips, provides a good stretch to your leg muscles, and improves your flexibility.23 Sato, K., & Liebenson, C. (2013). The lateral squat. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 17(4), 560-562. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2013.09.005
How to perform the archer squat:
- Stand upright with your feet two times wider than shoulder width.
- Pushing your hips toward your right side, bend your right knee until your glute is parallel to the floor.
- Your left leg will be stretched as you lower into a squat position to your right side.
- Push yourself up again into the starting position and repeat on the opposite side.
19. Sissy Squat
| Muscles Worked | Focus | Suggested Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Legs | Strength, Balance & Flexibility | 8-10 x 3 |
The sissy squat is one of the hardest calisthenics exercises for legs that help improve strength, balance, and muscle coordination.
It requires you to lean back and perform the squat on the balls of your feet.
It challenges your stability and ability to control the movement of your body.
So if you’re doing a calisthenics workout for a while, you should include this movement in your workout program.
Step-by-step guide to perform sissy squat:
- Stand upright in the hip-width stance and hold your arms straight in front of your chest. Maintaining a neutral spine position, lean your torso back and bend your knees simultaneously until your heels are off the floor and your knees are in line with your ankles.
- Pause for a second and return to the starting position. That’s one rep.
- You can also do supported sissy squats by holding a standing object with one hand.
20. Lunges to Single Leg RDL
| Muscles Worked | Focus | Suggested Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Legs, Back, and Core | Strength and Mobility | 8-10 x 3 |
Lunge to single-leg RDL is an excellent exercise that increases strength, balance, and flexibility. It works on various muscles throughout the body, such as the legs, hips, butt, lower back, and core, and helps strengthen and tone muscles.
How to:
- Stand upright with your feet together and perform a reverse lunge.
- Bend your torso forward and raise your right leg behind simultaneously until your chest and thigh are parallel to the floor.
- Pause for a second, return to the start, and repeat on the opposite side.
The Best Calisthenics Leg Workout Routine
For Beginners
Perform two rounds in a circuit
| Exercise | Reps | Rest |
|---|---|---|
| Wall Sits | 8-10 | 45-sec |
| Standard Squat | 15-20 | 60-sec |
| Lateral Lunges | 8-12 | 60-sec |
| Step-up | 8-12 | 60-sec |
| Glute Bridge | 10-12 | 45-sec |
| Standing Calf Raise | 12-15 | 45-sec |
For Intermediate Calisthenics Athletes
Complete three rounds.
| Exercise | Reps | Rest |
|---|---|---|
| Jump Squat | 10-12 | 30-sec |
| Bulgarian Split Squat | 8-10/side | 45-sec |
| Pistol Squat | 8-10/side | 60-sec |
| Curtsy Lunges | 8-10/side | 60-sec |
| Archer Squats | 8-10/side | 60-sec |
| Elevated Glute Bridge | 8-12 | 60-sec |
For Advanced Athletes
Aim for three rounds.
| Exercise | Reps | Rest |
|---|---|---|
| Jumping Split Lunges | 8-12 | 45-sec |
| Kneeling Squat Jump | 8-12 | 1-min |
| Skater Squats | 8-10/side | 1-min |
| Archer Squats | 8-10/side | 1-min |
| Curtsy Lunges | 8-10/side | 1-min |
| Sissy Squats | 8-10/side | 1-min |
| Elevated Glute Bridge | 8-12/side | 1-min |
| Lunges to Single Leg RDL | 8-10/side | 1-min |
The Bottom Line
I’ve outlined the 20 best calisthenics exercises for legs that can help you build from strength and stretching to balance and agility.
They also help you improve your body awareness, muscle coordination, and abdominal strength, correct poor posture, as well as reduce the risk of injuries.
You can select a few exercises that match your fitness level and include them in your workout program.
If you’re a beginner, perform each exercise and try some of the hardest ones to improve your overall fitness over time.
And, if you have been working out for a while, it’s best to modify any exercise and make it more challenging.
References
- 1Cho M. The effects of modified wall squat exercises on average adults’ deep abdominal muscle thickness and lumbar stability. J Phys Ther Sci. 2013 Jun;25(6):689-92. doi: 10.1589/jpts.25.689. Epub 2013 Jul 23. PMID: 24259831; PMCID: PMC3804993.
- 2Exercise training and resting blood pressure: a large-scale pairwise and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials – British Journal of Sports Medicine
- 3Escamilla RF. Knee biomechanics of the dynamic squat exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001 Jan;33(1):127-41. doi: 10.1097/00005768-200101000-00020. PMID: 11194098
- 4Lee JH, Kim S, Heo J, Park DH, Chang E. Differences in the muscle activities of the quadriceps femoris and hamstrings while performing various squat exercises. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2022 Jan 21;14(1):12. doi: 10.1186/s13102-022-00404-6. PMID: 35063016; PMCID: PMC8783452.
- 5Wei W, Zhu J, Ren S, Jan YK, Zhang W, Su R, He L. Effects of progressive body-weight versus barbell back squat training on strength, hypertrophy and body fat among sedentary young women. Sci Rep. 2023 Aug 19;13(1):13505. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-40319-x. PMID: 37598268; PMCID: PMC10439966.
- 6Simenz CJ, Garceau LR, Lutsch BN, Suchomel TJ, Ebben WP. Electromyographical analysis of lower extremity muscle activation during variations of the loaded step-up exercise. J Strength Cond Res. 2012 Dec;26(12):3398-405. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182472fad. PMID: 22237139.
- 7M Mair JL, De Vito G, Boreham CA. Low Volume, Home-Based Weighted Step Exercise Training Can Improve Lower Limb Muscle Power and Functional Ability in Community-Dwelling Older Women. J Clin Med. 2019 Jan 4;8(1):41. doi: 10.3390/jcm8010041. PMID: 30621121; PMCID: PMC6352105
- 8Çabuk S, İnce İ. The Acute Effects Of Hip Thrust and Glute Bridge Exercises With Different Loads on Sprint Performance and Horizontal Force-Velocity Profile in Adolescent Soccer Players: A Post-Activation Performance Enhancement Approach. Eur J Sport Sci. 2025 Feb;25(2):e12255. doi: 10.1002/ejsc.12255. PMID: 39832164; PMCID: PMC11745155.
- 9Kinoshita, M., Maeo, S., Kobayashi, Y., Eihara, Y., Ono, M., Sato, M., Sugiyama, T., Kanehisa, H., & Isaka, T. (2023). Triceps surae muscle hypertrophy is greater after standing versus seated calf-raise training. Frontiers in Physiology, 14, 1272106. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2023.1272106
- 10Kassiano W, Costa B, Kunevaliki G, Soares D, Zacarias G, Manske I, Takaki Y, Ruggiero MF, Stavinski N, Francsuel J, Tricoli I, Carneiro MAS, Cyrino ES. Greater Gastrocnemius Muscle Hypertrophy After Partial Range of Motion Training Performed at Long Muscle Lengths. J Strength Cond Res. 2023 Sep 1;37(9):1746-1753. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004460. Epub 2023 Apr 3. PMID: 37015016
- 11Lee, Geoncheol & Kim, Bom & Kim, Jisu & Nam, Inseong & Park, Yoojin & Shin, Woojin & Woo, Sumin & Cha, Seongki. (2014). The Effect of Calf-Raise Exercise on Gastrocnemius Muscle Based on Other Types of Supports. Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine. 2. 10.15268/ksim.2014.2.1.109.
- 12Van Schaardenburgh, M., Wohlwend, M., Rognmo, Ø., & Mattsson, E. (2017). Calf raise exercise increases walking performance in patients with intermittent claudication. Journal of Vascular Surgery, 65(5), 1473-1482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvs.2016.12.106
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