What is the Gastrocnemius?
The gastrocnemius is the large, visible muscle that makes up most of the shape of your calf. If you look at the back of your lower leg, it’s the muscle that creates that rounded “calf” look, especially when you stand on your toes or tighten your leg. It has two main sections, often called the inner and outer “heads,” which start just above the knee on the back of the thigh bone and then run down to attach into the Achilles tendon, which connects to your heel bone. Because it crosses both the knee and the ankle, it helps with two important actions: pushing the ground away through your foot and assisting with bending your knee.