Plantar Flexion Stretch

The Plantar Flexion Stretch targets the muscles in your calves and feet. This stretch improves flexibility and range of motion in the ankle.

  1. Stand tall and place your hands on a wall or sturdy surface for support.
  2. Step one foot back, keeping it straight and the heel on the ground.
  3. Bend your front knee and lean forward slightly, feeling the stretch in the calf of the back leg.
  4. Hold the position for 15-30 seconds, then switch legs.

How to perform the Plantar Flexion Stretch

  1. Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Plantar Flexion Stretch using your body weight.
  2. Brace and execute. Brace your core, control the descent, and move through a full pain-free range of motion while emphasizing your glutes.
  3. Reset. Reverse the movement under control and reset between repetitions, keeping your form crisp on every rep.

Coaching cues

  • Move with intent — every rep should feel deliberate, not rushed.
  • Drive force through your glutes rather than momentum.
  • Keep your breathing steady: exhale on the hard part, inhale on the reset.

Common mistakes

  • Using too much weight and losing positional control.
  • Cutting the range of motion short and missing the target muscle.
  • Letting your spine round or hyperextend instead of staying neutral.

Detailed cues, common mistakes, and demonstration video are available in the Fitly app.

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