To assess the gastrocnemius and soleus with muscle palpation, which positioning and action is recommended?

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The key idea is to palpate the calf muscles when they are taut and easy to feel, especially because the gastrocnemius crosses both the knee and the ankle. Lying the patient prone with the knee straight places the gastrocnemius on stretch, and dorsiflexing the ankle lengthens the muscle further. This combination makes the muscle belly and any tenderness or texture differences more palpable, allowing you to assess both the gastrocnemius and the soleus along the posterior calf. The dorsiflexion action helps you feel the muscle contours clearly and differentiate areas of tightness or tenderness. Other positions either shorten or relax the gastrocnemius or make the posterior calf harder to access, so they’re less effective for this palpation.