Sciatica Flares During Heavy Leg Press

MoscowBarbell · Post by **MoscowBarbell** » Mon Jun 08, 2026 2:30 am

Whenever I bring the sled down deep on leg press, I get a shooting nerve sensation down my left glute. Glute amnesia or nerve entrapment?

BigRepNation88 · Post by **BigRepNation88** » Mon Jun 08, 2026 2:50 am

Your butt is leaving the seat pad. That is butt-wink on a leg press, crushing your sciatic nerve.

CanuckLifter · Post by **CanuckLifter** » Mon Jun 08, 2026 3:15 am

Stop going so deep. Set the safety pins to block the sled before your pelvis rotates off the backrest.

IronBearRU · Post by **IronBearRU** » Mon Jun 08, 2026 3:40 am

Nerve flossing routines before training. Sit on a table, extend knee while looking up, flex knee while looking down.

manish · Post by **manish** » Mon Jun 08, 2026 4:05 am

Piriformis syndrome can look like structural sciatica. Roll out your deep lateral rotators with a lacrosse ball.

MoscowBarbell · Post by **MoscowBarbell** » Mon Jun 08, 2026 4:35 am

Wow, my hips definitely peel off the seat. I didn't even notice until I paid conscious attention.

BigRepNation88 · Post by **BigRepNation88** » Mon Jun 08, 2026 5:02 am

Pull yourself into the handles aggressively. Force your tailbone down hard into that corner crease.

CanuckLifter · Post by **CanuckLifter** » Mon Jun 08, 2026 5:30 am

Also try placing your feet slightly wider and higher up on the sled face to alter the leverage angles.

IronBearRU · Post by **IronBearRU** » Mon Jun 08, 2026 6:00 am

Do the nerve flossing regardless. It will restore mechanical excursion of the neural tissue.

manish · Post by **manish** » Mon Jun 08, 2026 6:25 am

Stop when mechanical tension ends and spinal compression starts. More depth isn't always better.