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Exercise guide

Ankle Circles

How to do the Ankle Circles with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

IsolationBeginnerPull
Primary muscles

Calves

Secondary

,

Equipment

Bodyweight

Step by step

How to do the Ankle Circles

  1. 1

    Use a sturdy object like a squat rack to hold yourself.

  2. 2

    Lift the right leg in the air (just around 2 inches from the floor) and perform a circular motion with the big toe. Pretend that you are drawing a big circle with it. Tip: One circle equals 1 repetition. Breathe normally as you perform the movement.

  3. 3

    When you are done with the right foot, then repeat with the left leg.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Ankle Circles set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap, so your calves volume is visible at a glance, and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Train with a goal

Where the Ankle Circles fits

The Ankle Circles shows up in training built around a specific goal. See how it fits:

Related

More calves exercises

FAQ

Ankle Circles: common questions

What muscles does the Ankle Circles work?

The Ankle Circles primarily works the Calves.

Is the Ankle Circles suitable for beginners?

Yes. The Ankle Circles is a beginner-level exercise, so it's a solid choice if you're new to training. Start light and focus on the movement pattern before adding load.

What equipment do I need for the Ankle Circles?

None. The Ankle Circles is a bodyweight exercise, so you can do it without any equipment.

Is the Ankle Circles a compound or isolation exercise?

The Ankle Circles is an isolation exercise, it targets the calves through a single joint, which makes it useful for focused, targeted work.

How do I do the Ankle Circles with correct form?

Use a sturdy object like a squat rack to hold yourself. Follow the full step-by-step above for the complete movement.

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