The Single-Leg Calf Raise Strength Test assesses how well a client can repeatedly raise the heel on one leg with control. It is useful for tracking plantar flexor strength-endurance, comparing sides and monitoring changes across running, jumping, calf-loading or lower-limb strength programmes.
A runner may feel one calf fatigues earlier than the other during hill running. A field sport athlete may report reduced push-off after a lower-limb injury. A gym client may complete heavy lower-body exercises but still show poor single-leg calf control. The Single-Leg Calf Raise Strength Test gives professionals a simple, repeatable way to assess calf raise performance under bodyweight or loaded conditions.
This test should be interpreted as a measure of calf raise performance, not as a stand-alone measure of maximal plantar flexor strength. Research has shown that single-leg heel raise performance can provide useful strength-endurance information, but it should not be assumed to directly represent maximal plantar flexor strength or reactive strength.
Test name: Single-Leg Calf Raise Strength Test
Also known as: Single-leg heel raise test, SL calf raise test
Purpose: Assess single-leg calf raise performance and plantar flexor strength-endurance
What it assesses: Repeated heel raise capacity, calf endurance, side-to-side performance and movement quality
Equipment: Flat surface, wall or balance support, optional step, optional metronome, optional external load, Measurz for recording
Key finding: Valid repetitions, load used, side difference, symptoms and quality notes
Best used with: Ankle ROM, weight-bearing lunge test, calf raise endurance test, hop tests, running assessment and lower-limb strength tests
Key limitation: Repetition count does not directly prove maximal calf strength, Achilles capacity or return-to-run readiness
The Single-Leg Calf Raise Strength Test measures how many controlled heel raises a client can complete on one leg, or how well they can perform a standardised loaded or unloaded single-leg calf raise.
The test is commonly used to assess plantar flexor strength-endurance. Depending on the protocol, it may be scored by repetition count, total work, heel height, load used, tempo or side-to-side comparison.
This test is used because calf raise performance is relevant to walking, running, jumping, landing, sprinting, cutting and stair use. It can help identify differences between sides and monitor changes over time.
It may be useful during calf loading progressions, Achilles tendon loading programmes, return-to-running planning, lower-limb performance testing and general strength monitoring.
The test measures single-leg calf raise performance under the chosen conditions.
It may reflect:
Plantar flexor strength-endurance
Calf raise control
Heel-rise height
Fatigue tolerance
Side-to-side performance difference
Pain or symptom response
Movement quality under repeated loading
It does not directly measure maximal plantar flexor strength, Achilles tendon integrity, reactive strength, running readiness or injury risk.
This test may be useful for runners, field sport athletes, court sport athletes, jump-sport athletes, dancers, gym clients, older adults and clients completing calf, Achilles or lower-limb loading programmes.
It may not be appropriate when the client cannot safely balance on one leg, has high pain during heel raise, cannot follow the movement standard or requires a different loading strategy.
Flat surface
Wall, rail or dowel for light balance support
Optional step if measuring through full available range
Optional metronome for tempo
Optional external load
Measurz for recording results
Optional video for technique review
Ask the client to stand on one leg with light fingertip support available for balance. The support should not be used to pull or assist the movement.
Set the foot position consistently. If using a step, record that setup and repeat it during retesting. If testing from the floor, ensure the same floor position is used each time.
Ask the client to rise as high as possible onto the ball of the foot, then lower under control. Define the required heel height and movement standard before starting.
A valid repetition should include:
A clear rise onto the forefoot
Controlled lowering
Minimal knee bending compensation
No pushing through the hands
No hopping or bouncing
No excessive trunk lean
Consistent tempo if a metronome is used
Continue until the client cannot reach the required height, loses control, uses the hands to assist, stops due to fatigue, or symptoms limit the test.
Repeat on the other side after adequate rest.
Record the number of valid repetitions for each side. If load is used, record the load and how it was held. If tempo is used, record the cadence.
A higher repetition count usually indicates better calf raise strength-endurance under that protocol. However, interpretation should include movement quality, heel height, pain, fatigue, side-to-side difference and whether the test was floor-based, step-based, weighted or tempo-controlled.
A meaningful interpretation is stronger when the same protocol is repeated across sessions.
Normative values depend on age, sex, activity level, test setup, heel height criteria, tempo and whether total work is measured. Recent research has continued to develop normative heel-rise endurance values, but protocol differences mean values should not be applied universally.
For most Measurz users, the most practical benchmarks are the client’s own baseline, side-to-side comparison and progress across sessions.
A standardised single-leg heel raise protocol can provide reliable measures of lower-leg muscular endurance. However, evidence also indicates that single-leg heel raise repetitions should not be used as a direct proxy for maximal plantar flexor strength or reactive strength.
Reliability improves when the same surface, tempo, support, heel-height standard, footwear, rest period and assessor instructions are used.
Common errors include allowing the client to push through the hands, bending the knee excessively, using a bouncing rhythm, accepting partial reps, changing foot position between sides, not recording tempo and ignoring pain.
The main limitation is that the test measures performance in a specific repeated heel-rise task. It does not explain why performance is limited.
Use this test to track calf strength-endurance, compare sides, monitor response to calf loading, support return-to-running decisions and add context to jump, hop, sprint and lower-limb strength tests.
It is most useful when paired with ankle ROM, single-leg balance, hopping, running and calf strength measures.
Record side tested, number of valid reps, load used, footwear, surface, step or floor setup, tempo, pain score, symptom location, heel-height notes, balance support, reason for stopping and comparison side.
Useful notes include reduced heel height, early fatigue, knee bend, hand assistance, cramping, Achilles symptoms, calf pain, asymmetry or poor lowering control.
Ankle Dorsiflexion Test
Weight-Bearing Lunge Test
Weight-Bearing Plantar Flexion Test
Single-Leg Balance Test
Side Hop Test
6m Timed Hop Test
Running Assessment
It measures repeated single-leg calf raise performance, including plantar flexor strength-endurance and movement quality.
No. Repetition performance should not be treated as a direct measure of maximal plantar flexor strength.
Either can be used, but the setup must be recorded and repeated consistently.
A rep should be stopped or not counted if the client cannot reach the required height, loses control, uses the hands to assist or changes the movement standard.
Yes. Pain score, symptom location and stopping reason should be recorded.
The Single-Leg Calf Raise Strength Test assesses repeated heel-rise performance.
Use a clear rep standard before starting.
Do not interpret reps as maximal calf strength.
Record side, reps, symptoms, setup and quality in Measurz.
Use the result alongside ROM, hop, balance and running findings.
Hébert-Losier, K., Wessman, C., Alricsson, M., & Svantesson, U. (2017). Updated reliability and normative values for the standing heel-rise test in healthy adults. Physiotherapy, 103(4), 446–452.
O’Neill, S., Barry, S., Watson, P., et al. (2021). The single-leg heel raise does not predict maximal plantar flexor strength in healthy males and females. PLOS ONE, 16(6), e0253276.
Schneeberg, A., et al. (2025). Normative values for calf muscle strength-endurance in the general population using the heel-rise endurance test. Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy. Advance online publication.
