Whether you’re recovering from surgery, going to physical therapy, want to increase your flexibility, dealing with foot pain or just love to stretch — you should consider getting a slant board. It’s an adjustable, straightforward piece of home fitness equipment that’s easy to use and doesn’t demand a ton of space.
Of course, a quick internet search will show you — there are approximately a bajillion options for these calf stretchers, ranging in material, style and price. While it’s nice to have choices, the amount can quickly become overwhelming. So when we spotted a real wood option on Amazon for $60 that reviewers say is the exact one in their physical therapist’s office, we knew we needed to write about it.
Great for stretching before or after working out, the brand says the board is also intended to lessen pain from plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendon injuries, shin splints and calf strains.
At $60, this stretcher is a little pricier than some other options, but reviewers agree — it’s money well spent. “The other ones looked like they were made from a cheaper faux wood,” one reviewer wrote. “I am glad I paid the extra money.” Also, the board comes from a small Texas-based company called StrongTek and was designed by two brothers both struggling with chronic back pain.
Not only is this stretcher made from real wood, but it’s also a little wider than other options.
The brand refers to it as the “professional” size, meaning the size a physical therapist’s office would have. “This product looks like the professional ones used at the PT center,” user royc10 said. “It is wide enough that you don’t have to fear slipping off, and has solid gripping,” another reviewer wrote, adding that they’ve tried cheaper boards that felt too narrow to use safely. (Another note: because of the strong foot grip tape, you’ll want to use shoes on this board.)
The board is also notably more stable than others, with a 450-pound capacity, anti-slip treads on the bottom and side handles for portability. “I wear size 13 shoes and weigh 350+ and this thing is solid as a rock and comfortable to use,” reviewer Brad wrote. “I use it almost every day to stretch my calves. Since starting to do that, my foot and ankle tendon issues have pretty much disappeared.”
With five adjustable positions, you can find the angle that works for your needs. Many reviews say this board has been surprisingly effective, quickly relieving pain they spent years (and lots of money) trying to figure out.
Need to hear more about the calf stretching slant board that’s helping to make pain disappear? See more promising reviews below.
“Great! My physical therapist recommend this brand. It is very sturdy and the perfect size. I would highly recommend it. I am recovering from a fractured ankle and need a reliable, sturdy, and safe calf stretcher. I love it!” — Guadalupe Martinez
“I liked that this was the same wooden slant board used by my physical therapist. I liked I like that the unit allows you to increase the intensity in you calf by elevating the slant board. When using the slant board, put your toes to your arch on the board, not your whole foot and lean forward without bending at the hips. Be sure to wear a pair of shoes or sneakers. You want to feel a stretch in your calf and Hamstring.” — John P
“I bought this because my physical therapy company uses it. I read consumer reviews, however, on Amazon, prior to buying. I prefer this one because it is US made. It also has better features than cheaper options. I suggest you pay more and get something that takes care of your body, because your body is priceless. This Slant board is used in my home fitness center for stretching my hammer toes, stretching my plantar tendons, and for stretching lower leg extendor muscles. (Gastrocnemus, etc.). I also use this for strengthening my calf muscles. It adjusts. That is important. Low level for lower resistance. I had a Gastrocnemus Recession, both legs, so my calf strength is less than ideal. This helps greatly.” — TheHeater
“You get what you pay for. I have tried other slant boards, at a lower cost. While well made, they have generally been too narrow, and made them difficult to use, even just for stretching. This board, however, is high quality, well made, and capable of handling whatever exercises you wish to do with it. It is solid enough, but not too heavy to handle. It is wide enough that you don’t have to fear slipping off, and has solid gripping (the only caveat is you will want to wear shoes while using the board because the grips are rough to accomplish the task). This is a bit more expensive than some, but what good is saving 10 bucks if you can’t use the cheaper board.” — SJLaMartina
“After 2 knee replacements on the same knee in 10 months... I have a very angry hamstring & I T band…. we use one like this in PT…. so I get extra stretching at home It’s wonderful” — deborah w.
“Worth the money for how much it’s helped me. I have Achilles Heel issues & I’m stiff there. I used something like this at a Physical Therapy office. It was a little painful the first time I used it, but I pressed through it & stayed on it as long as I could tolerate it. 2-3 days later I had less Achilles Heel pain & stiffness. I can tell that using this consistently is going to make a big change in my mobility. I’m a Line Dancer & the Achilles Heel pain was affecting my dancing. I can now dance longer because I got one of these & I use it daily. I’m also recovering from knee replacement surgery & this is helping me big time! I love it! Smart purchase for me.” — Donna
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