The heel raise test is a commonly used test to assess strength and endurance of the planter flexors in everyday clinical practice. However several factors affect an individual’s ability to complete the test such as age, sex, BMI (body mass index) and activity level.

Normative values according to Herbert-Loiser et al – 2017

Single Leg Calf Raise Reps:  Normative Values

Useful for rehab – How many can you do?

20-29yrs: Male 37, Female 30
30-39yrs: Male 32, Female 27
40-49yrs: Male 28, Female 24
50-59yrs: Male 23, Female 21
60-69yrs: Male 19, Female 19
70-79yrs: Male 14, Female 16

The test based upon the criteria that:

• Single-legged heel rises
• preformed on a 10° incline.
• The test subject allowed to balance using fingertip support
• Testing not timed but controlled to a heel-rise cycle cadence was controlled at 60 per minute by a metronome until failure or exhaustion

Or the subject was unable to maintain the test parameters e.g. knee and trunk alignment, complete heel raise completed, or rely on fingertip support for balance and used the wall to assist performance

Overall males outperform females 25 reps compared to 21 reps BUT It’s interesting that with each passing decade the gender performance gap narrows with females aged 60+ out performing their male counterparts.

Based on the assumption that:

– Endurance = max number

&

– Strength = e.g. 10 repetition maximum

Do you think how many you can do or how much load you can do them is more important?