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Sciatica Flares During Heavy Leg Press
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2026 2:30 am
by MoscowBarbell
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?
Re: Sciatica Flares During Heavy Leg Press
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2026 2:50 am
by BigRepNation88
Your butt is leaving the seat pad. That is butt-wink on a leg press, crushing your sciatic nerve.
Re: Sciatica Flares During Heavy Leg Press
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2026 3:15 am
by CanuckLifter
Stop going so deep. Set the safety pins to block the sled before your pelvis rotates off the backrest.
Re: Sciatica Flares During Heavy Leg Press
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2026 3:40 am
by IronBearRU
Nerve flossing routines before training. Sit on a table, extend knee while looking up, flex knee while looking down.
Re: Sciatica Flares During Heavy Leg Press
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2026 4:05 am
by manish
Piriformis syndrome can look like structural sciatica. Roll out your deep lateral rotators with a lacrosse ball.
Re: Sciatica Flares During Heavy Leg Press
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2026 4:35 am
by MoscowBarbell
Wow, my hips definitely peel off the seat. I didn't even notice until I paid conscious attention.
Re: Sciatica Flares During Heavy Leg Press
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2026 5:02 am
by BigRepNation88
Pull yourself into the handles aggressively. Force your tailbone down hard into that corner crease.
Re: Sciatica Flares During Heavy Leg Press
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2026 5:30 am
by CanuckLifter
Also try placing your feet slightly wider and higher up on the sled face to alter the leverage angles.
Re: Sciatica Flares During Heavy Leg Press
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2026 6:00 am
by IronBearRU
Do the nerve flossing regardless. It will restore mechanical excursion of the neural tissue.
Re: Sciatica Flares During Heavy Leg Press
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2026 6:25 am
by manish
Stop when mechanical tension ends and spinal compression starts. More depth isn't always better.