Kettlebell Tibialis Raise
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A shin exercise performed seated on a bench with a kettlebell hanging from the front of one foot. Lifting the toes toward the shin against the weight strengthens the muscles at the front of the lower leg.
- Main focus
- Strength
- Level
- Building
- Equipment
- Kettlebells, A bench
- Load
- Free weight
- Stability
- Supported by a seat, bench or wall
Before you start
- Warm up first with a minute or two of easy walking or marching in place, and cool down the same way after.
- Wear flat, closed shoes with a good grip, or go barefoot on a non-slip floor if that feels steady to you.
- Clear the floor around you. Keep a sturdy chair, counter or wall within reach for any move you do standing.
- Build up slowly. Add repetitions or minutes over weeks, not days. If you take a break, work back up gradually.
Talk with a doctor or physical therapist before you start if you have not been active for some time, if you have a health condition or a worry about exercise, if you have fallen or fear falling, or if a clinician has told you to limit activity. This library is general information, not medical advice.
What you need
A kettlebell in a weight you can control.
How to do it
- Sit at the end of a flat bench with one leg extended and the heel resting on the floor.
- Hang a kettlebell by its handle from the front of the foot, over the toes.
- Pull the toes up toward the shin as far as is comfortable while the heel stays on the floor.
- Hold briefly at the top.
- Lower the foot slowly until the toes point toward the floor.
- Complete the repetitions, then switch legs.
How much
To start: 1 to 2 sets of 8 to 12 slow repetitions, resting 1 to 2 minutes between sets.
As it gets easier: 2 to 3 sets of 6 to 12 repetitions with good form, resting 1 to 3 minutes. Add load or repetitions gradually, no more than about once a week.
How it should feel: The muscles you are working should feel the effort. The last repetitions should be hard but controlled, never shaky or painful.
Make it easier
Use the other ways to do this movement below.
Make it harder
Use the other ways to do this movement below.
Tips
- Keep the movement at the ankle; the knee and thigh stay still.
- Start with a light kettlebell and increase gradually; the shin muscles tire quickly.
- Lower slowly rather than letting the weight drop.
Safety
- Warm up first, and keep your breathing steady. Breathe out on the effort and in as you ease off. Do not hold your breath.
- Move with control. Do not lock your joints straight at the end of a movement.
- Choose a version, load and number of repetitions you can finish with good form. The last few should feel hard but not shaky.
- Start with a light kettlebell and learn the movement slowly before moving faster.
More safety notes
- Keep the floor around you clear and your grip firm.
- Pick up and put down the kettlebell by bending your knees, with a straight back.
When to stop
- Stop and rest if you feel dizzy or lightheaded, sick to your stomach, or unusually short of breath.
- Stop if you feel sharp, sudden or joint pain. Muscles working hard is expected. Pain is a signal to stop.
- Stop and sit down if you feel unsteady and cannot settle yourself right away.
- Call your local emergency number for chest pain or pressure, fainting, or sudden weakness, numbness or trouble speaking.
- After any of these, do not repeat the exercise until you have talked with a doctor or physical therapist.
- You cannot control the kettlebell.
- You feel pain in your lower back, wrist or shoulder.
Other ways to do this movement
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Where this comes from
Steps and tips are from an open exercise dataset named below. Starting amounts, equipment and safety notes are Fitafter50's general guidance. Nothing here is clinically reviewed.
Steps and tips: Exercise data by RepDB (repdb.co). License: RepDB Free Tier License v1.0: personal or commercial use inside applications, visible attribution, no redistribution as a dataset or API. All credits.
This is general information, not medical advice. It does not diagnose anything or tell you whether an exercise is right for you. Adjust to your comfort and ability.
