Calf Raise vs Hip Abduction
Maximizing Your Leg Workout Plan
Contents
Hip Abduction is the easier place to start — difficulty 1 of 5 vs 5. Compare Leg form cues and when to progress.
Customize Your Leg Workout: Explore the Benefits of Calf Raise and Hip Abduction for Better Comparison.
Planfit Users' Choice about Calf Raise vs Hip Abduction : Which is Better?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Calf Raise more often — 1,215 sessions compared to 873 for Hip Abduction.
Popularity is not the whole answer. Calf Raise and Hip Abduction differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Calf Raise and Hip Abduction Differ
| What differs | Calf Raise | Hip Abduction |
|---|---|---|
| Muscles worked | calves, hamstrings, and glutes | glutes and outer thighs |
| One side at a time | No | Yes |
| Difficulty | 5 of 5 | 1 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 1,215 sessions | 873 sessions |
How to Calf Raise
Calf Raise muscles worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Please raise your heels as high as possible to contract your calf muscles.
- 2. Please hold while resisting the weight, making sure your heels do not touch the ground.
Coach's Comment
- 1. If it is difficult to maintain your balance, support yourself with your hand on a wall or object.
- 2. Since strain may be placed on your ankle or Achilles tendon (the tendon at the back of your calf and heel), do not lower yourself quickly, and if you feel pain, perform the exercise with just your body weight.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Calf Raise, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Calf Raise Guide page of our blog!
How to Hip Abduction
Hip Abduction muscles worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Straighten the knee of the leg above and lift it using the outer hip muscles.
- 2. Raise the leg so that it is at an angle of more than 60 degrees from the floor.
- 3. After finishing one side, proceed with the opposite leg in the same way.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Please be careful not to shake your body.
- 2. Keep your core engaged to avoid putting strain on your lower back.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Hip Abduction, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Hip Abduction Guide page of our blog!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Leg, Calf Raise or Hip Abduction?
Neither is clearly ahead — Planfit users log both at a similar rate. They both train Leg, so the choice comes down to the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
Do Calf Raise and Hip Abduction work the same muscles?
Not quite. Calf Raise loads calves, hamstrings, and glutes, and Hip Abduction loads glutes and outer thighs.
What equipment do Calf Raise and Hip Abduction need?
Calf Raise needs bodyweight only, and Hip Abduction needs bodyweight only.
Which is easier to start with?
Hip Abduction is the easier place to start. Move to Calf Raise once your form holds up.
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