What part of the calves do squats hit?

[Tommy Gunn]

I know squats are primarily a quad exercise, but I feel they work my calves too. What part of the calves do you work when doing squats (upper,lower,inner,outter)?

[Flexor]

According to the best site on the net, it works the soleus

http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...s/BBSquat.html

It also says here about the gastro in relation to your knee rotation (http://www.exrx.net/Muscles/Gastrocnemius.html)

"Although the involvement of the lateral and medial heads would not seem to be altered by medial or lateral rotation of the hip, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) research by Dr. Per Tesch (Sweden) suggests toes in activate both heads and toes out activate the medial head to a higher degree. See dorsiflexion inflexibility"

[Tommy Gunn]

So squats work the upper calf mostly?

[Flexor]

According to the information the squats will work the outer calves which is the soleus, the thin strip down the length of the sides, but in reality, its working the whole of the calves pretty well at the high masses involved in squats

[*Narkissos*]

isometric contraction of the soleus. Calves (soleus primarily) are brought into play as a secondary support muscle.