Hyperplasia for calf growth

[drtbear1967]

Only a handful of studies have shown potential evidence of hyperplasia in humans – this is partly due to the fact that the most popular mechanism to induce hyperplasia is very difficult to study in humans. This mechanism involves using very heavy loads in stretched positions for long amounts of time. Not every joint can go through a large enough range of motion to achieve a sufficient stretch to induce hyperplasia. However, the ankle joint is one of the few that can! Even if hyperplasia does not occur to a large degree, this will still be a new stimulus for growth in your calves!
-
Source: Macdougall, J. D. (2003). Chapter 13: Hypertrophy and hyperplasia. Strength and Power in Sport, 252-264.

 

[BigZ]

Heavy weight and time under tension, big factors on getting your calves to grow.

 

[drtbear1967]

I wonder why that is so hard for people to understand.

 

[BigZ]

That's a good question! We've got plenty of big guys at my gym with little bitty calves, some of whom I see actually work their calves, but they just don't apply the principles. I don't know why they don't get it.

 

[drtbear1967]

No idea.

 

[BigZ]

In fact, at the gym last night I saw a couple of big guys doing an exercise and in between they did "calf raises" on the floor, just bodyweight. Just had to chuckle to myself thinking, you're not going to get anything out of that.

 

[BigZ]

They just put in a new standing calf raise machine in my gym, and I see people putting up to 150 lbs on it to do their calf raises. Again, it just isn't going to do much--not enough muscle stimulation for calves. Not to boast, but I've maxed out the machine already first time using it (it goes up to 405 lbs). Calves can handle a lot so you have to train them hard.

 

[drtbear1967]

Its getting past the pain that is the issues.

 

[yellow snow]

I'm am a big fan of the above..............but I also like to get a huge pump going in the calfs then stretch the hell out of them. In between every set I am stretching until my next set.

They will grow!! (it will take year for the hard gainer, but they will grow)