Gastrocnemius Caput Laterale (left) — SENIAM EMG Electrode Placement

Recording notes & source

per Criswell 2011, site „Gastrocnemius“, p. 374

Placement type: Specific site The signal originates predominantly from this muscle.
Signal check: Lean forward while standing; plantar-flex the foot (point the toe) or rise onto the toes.
Crosstalk from: medial gastrocnemius head · peroneus longus · tibialis posterior · flexor hallucis longus · flexor digitorum longus

The position above follows SENIAM; the crosstalk and artefact notes apply to surface recording of this muscle in general.

Print as a session sheet · A4 with landmarks, signal check and MVC test

Source: SENIAM (Hermens 2000) ↗

Hermens HJ, Freriks B, Disselhorst-Klug C, Rau G. Development of recommendations for SEMG sensors and sensor placement procedures. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2000;10(5):361-74.

Based on SENIAM recommendations (Hermens et al. 2000). Not an official SENIAM product. See all references → · SENIAM reference table · How electrodes are placed (guide) · Glossary

Go deeper SENIAM Electrode Positions — All 26 Muscles at a Glance → Why the Electrode Must Not Sit on the Innervation Zone →

All 49 muscle protocols as a PDF — free

Print-ready for the lab or clinic: 77 pages of protocols (SENIAM + peer-reviewed), plus the SENIAM table, a placement checklist and a sensor comparison sheet as A4 sheets.

Anatomy & Function

The M. Gastrocnemius Caput Laterale (Gastrocnemius (Lateral Head)) is a muscle of the lower leg region. It is responsible for ankle plantar flexion, knee flexion (biarticular), push-off during walking/running. This muscle is one of 26 with official SENIAM-recommended surface EMG electrode placement. This page documents the exact electrode position, anatomical attachments and a standardized test movement based on Hermens et al. (2000).

Function Ankle plantar flexion, knee flexion (biarticular), push-off during walking/running Origin Lateral epicondyle of the femur (posterior) Insertion Calcaneus (via Achilles tendon / tendo calcaneus) Innervation Tibial nerve, S1–S2

Innervation after Perotto AO, Anatomical Guide for the Electromyographer, 5th ed. 2011 — an anatomical reference, not an electrode placement recommendation.

Clinical applications (SENIAM)

Gait analysis and foot drop assessment
Achilles tendinopathy monitoring
Proprioceptive training after ankle injury

Test Movement

Heel raise (single leg) or plantar flexion against resistance with extended knee

Detail: group test, sensor on the reference muscle of the group (M. Gastrocnemius Caput Mediale) — Group test — image shows the reference muscle of the group (M. Gastrocnemius Caput Mediale). Illustration shows the left side; the set-up is mirrored for the right side.

MVC reference test (Konrad 2005)

Position: Unilateral plantar flexion at a 90° ankle position with the knee extended; standing single-leg heel raise as a field alternative.
Fixation: Very rigid (machine) resistance against the fixed hip; standing: hands on a rail for balance only.
Resistance: Fixed footplate or body weight plus load, plantar flexion against it.
Control exercise: The soleus test (knee flexed) is the check exercise.

Konrad: one of the strongest human muscle groups — the triceps surae needs very rigid resistance, otherwise the maximum is not reached.

Konrad P. The ABC of EMG. Noraxon; 2005, p. 32. Konrad describes this test at group level; it applies to all muscles of the group. · Why and how to normalise to MVC

Measure M. Gastrocnemius Caput Laterale activity live

The electrode is placed — what next? easyEMG visualises muscle activity in real time, with SENIAM-compliant placement guidance, up to 4 channels at once and biofeedback training right afterwards.

In screening, this muscle is usually recorded together with its synergists — running several channels in parallel saves the most time.

EMG mapping & muscle analysis → What is EMG biofeedback? PicoBlue sensors

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I place the EMG electrode on the M. Gastrocnemius Caput Laterale?

1/3 on line between fibular head and heel. Orientation: Along the line fibular head–heel. Based on the official SENIAM recommendations (Hermens et al. 2000).

Which test movement activates the M. Gastrocnemius Caput Laterale?

Heel raise (single leg) or plantar flexion against resistance with extended knee. This movement is part of the SENIAM protocol for standardized contraction verification.

Is the M. Gastrocnemius Caput Laterale a SENIAM-recommended muscle?

Yes. The M. Gastrocnemius Caput Laterale is one of 26 muscles for which the SENIAM project has published official surface EMG electrode placement recommendations.

M. Gastrocnemius Caput Laterale

Electrode Placement (SENIAM)