I've gained 100lbs and still have very small calves. They must have gotten bigger, but at 14.5-15" they can't have gotten that much bigger. My thighs are 27-28" for comparison.
That said, I do no calf work. I just can't bring myself to do it.
In my experience, some higher-rep, lower-weight standing and seated calf raises seem to help some with running-injury prevention. I think it might mainly be because of the increased blood flow, and therefore better recovery, ala the Starr Rehab method, as well as the stretch and isometric hold that can accompany them (depending on how you do them).
That could just be helping the smaller ankle stabilizing muscles (peroneus longus, tibialis posterior, etc.) more than anything, like you'd use high-rep presses for the smaller muscles around the shoulder joint. It's gotta be better than silly PT band/isolation work at the very least.
I've gained 100lbs and still have very small calves. They must have gotten bigger, but at 14.5-15" they can't have gotten that much bigger. My thighs are 27-28" for comparison.
That said, I do no calf work. I just can't bring myself to do it.
I think everbody's overthinking it. People do calf work becuase they want big calves.
Certainly. But while a guy with 12" calves will never have 16" calves, he may be able to go up to 13," or even just 12.5." Even if he can't, try convincing him of that.
There's one problem people miss. While your thighs, pecs, shoulders, and whatever else can be almost totally untrained, your calves can't. Unless you spend the majority of your time in a Hoverround, you've trained you calves just by living and walking around. They're already closer to their genetic limit than the rest of your body, which is why what Rip says is true.
+1 for genetics. I have always had large,fairly muscular calves, even when I was fat and lazy. No calf raises, much less running, jumping or sprinting. Now that I squat, they are pretty much huge. It's funny to be a girl and have better baby cows than 85% of the guys at the gym.
Thanks a lot, Rip. I blame you that I will never ever be able to wear fashionable skinny jeans or cute knee high boots. (I do look pretty killer in a pair of heels though.)