Fix Flat Feet and Strengthen Ankles with This Surprising Calf Raise Hack

How a Simple Ball Trick Can Bulletproof Your Ankles, According to Squat University

We’ve all heard of calf raises — but what if we told you there’s a way to make them twice as effective, especially if you deal with flat feet, weak arches, or chronic ankle instability?

In this short, powerful video, Dr. Aaron Horschig from Squat University drops a game-changing tip: add a ball between your heels during calf raises to activate a hidden MVP in your lower leg — the tibialis posterior.

👣 Why This Tiny Muscle Matters

The tibialis posterior sits deep beneath the bulky calf muscles and plays a critical role in supporting the arch of your foot. If it’s weak or underactivated, your foot can flatten out, leading to instability, poor movement patterns, and even pain that echoes up the kinetic chain.

Dr. Horschig explains how one of his patients, David, struggled with heel pain during calf raises — until he was told to squeeze a ball between his heels. The pain decreased immediately.

🟢 The Ball Hack Explained

• Place a soft ball between your heels (a yoga or pilates ball works best)
• Perform slow, controlled double-leg calf raises while gently squeezing the ball
• This simple addition lights up the tibialis posterior and builds stability

Flat feet? Chronic ankle sprains? General wobbly-leg syndrome during squats? This trick’s for you.

🔥 Who Is Dr. Aaron Horschig?

Dr. Horschig isn’t your average strength coach. He’s a licensed physical therapist, former Olympic weightlifter, and the bestselling author of Rebuilding Milo and The Squat Bible. Through his Squat University YouTube channel (6.3M subscribers and counting), he bridges the gap between high-performance strength training and pain-free longevity.

Here are a few of his top resources for going deeper:

• 📘 Rebuilding Milo — How to fix common injuries and restore peak movement
• 📗 The Squat Bible — A deep dive into squat mechanics and mobility
• 🌐 SquatUniversity.com — Free blogs, videos, and rehab protocols

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🧩 Block 0059: [Fix Flat Feet and Strengthen Ankles with This Surprising Calf Raise Hack]

This one tiny shift — a ball between your heels — could transform the way you train. Add it to your routine, and give a respectful nod to Dr. Horschig. The guy's not just dropping tips — he’s redefining rehab and resilience.