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Exercise guide

Knee Circles

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

CompoundBody OnlyBeginnerPull
Primary muscles

Calves

Secondary

Hamstrings, Quads

Equipment

Body Only

Step by step

How to do the Knee Circles

  1. 1

    Stand with your legs together and hands by your waist.

  2. 2

    Now move your knees in a circular motion as you breathe normally.

  3. 3

    Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Knee 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 Knee Circles fits

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

Related

More calves exercises

FAQ

Knee Circles: common questions

What muscles does the Knee Circles work?

The Knee Circles primarily works the Calves. It also recruits the Hamstrings and Quads as supporting muscles.

Is the Knee Circles suitable for beginners?

Yes. The Knee 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 Knee Circles?

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

Is the Knee Circles a compound or isolation exercise?

The Knee Circles is a compound exercise, it moves multiple joints and works several muscle groups at once, which makes it efficient for building overall strength.

How do I do the Knee Circles with correct form?

Stand with your legs together and hands by your waist. Follow the full step-by-step above for the complete movement.

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