Safe alternatives to Leg Press after damaging my sciatic nerve
Hey everyone, I need some advice on a frustrating situation. Over the last 6 months, I’ve injured my sciatic nerve twice while doing the Leg Press, both on the horizontal and diagonal machines. I assume it’s due to poor form. Because of this, I’m considering dropping it from my program or perhaps modifying how I do it.
Currently, I’m following a nerve recovery protocol. For the past 4 weeks, I’ve cut out deadlifts, squats, and weighted ab exercises. I’ve replaced them with isolation exercises, low-intensity Bulgarian split squats/lunges, and planks or non-rotational ab work.
Now, I’m at a crossroads regarding what to do once I’m fully recovered:
- Option 1: Drop the Leg Press entirely and replace it with more Squats, Hack Squats (which I already do once a week), or lunges.
- Option 2: Continue with Leg Press but with lower weight or by switching to a unilateral version. (My current PR is 200 kg for 10 reps).
I’ve attached my previous 4-day-a-week Upper/Lower + Shoulders split below. Any input on how to handle this would be greatly appreciated.
| Day / Focus | Exercise | Sets x Reps |
|---|---|---|
| UPPER (Day 1) | Incline Bench Press (Smith Machine) | 1x7-8, 1x8-8, 1x8-8 |
| Pull Up | 2x8-14, 1x9-14, 1x9-14 | |
| Pec Deck | 1x8-12, 1x8-12, 1x8-12 | |
| Seated Row (Leverage Machine) | 2x11-13, 1x11-13 | |
| Cable Bicep Curl | 1x14-14, 1x14-14 | |
| Cable Triceps Extension | 1x10-14, 1x10-14 | |
| Triceps Pushdown | 1x10-14 | |
| Hammer Curl | 1x10-14 | |
| Hanging Leg Raise | 2x10-16 | |
| LOWER / SHOULDERS (Day 2) | Lying Leg Curl | 1x11-12, 1x9-12 |
| Squat (Leverage Machine) | 1x6-10, 1x6-10, 1x6-10 | |
| Standing Calf Raise (Leverage Machine) | 1x6-10, 1x6-10, 1x6-10 | |
| Barbell Romanian Deadlift | 2x12-12, 1x12-12 | |
| Leg Extension | 1x11-12, 1x12-12 | |
| Cable Lateral Raise | 2x6-12, 1x6-12 | |
| Cable Crunch | 1x10-12, 1x12-12 | |
| 45° Rear Delt Cable Fly | 1x13-16, 1x14-116 | |
| UPPER (Day 3) | Lat Pulldown | 1x11-14, 2x12-14, 1x12-14 |
| Bench Press | 1x9-12, 1x11-12, 1x11-12 | |
| Seated Wide Grip Row | 2x12-12, 1x12-12 | |
| Cable Crossover | 1x8-12, 1x8-12, 1x8-12 | |
| Wrist Curl (EZ Bar) | 1x10-14 | |
| Reverse Wrist Curl (EZ Bar) | 1x10-14 | |
| Cable Triceps Extension | 1x10-14, 1x10-14 | |
| Cable Kickback | 1x12-14 | |
| Preacher Curl (EZ Bar) | 1x6-12, 1x6-12 | |
| LOWER / SHOULDERS (Day 4) | Leg Press | 2x6-8, 1x6-10 |
| Calf Press on Seated Leg Press | 1x6-10, 1x6-10, 1x6-10 | |
| Lying Leg Curl | 1x11-12, 1x9-12 | |
| Split Squat | 2x6-12 | |
| Shoulder Press (Leverage Machine) | 1x9-12, 1x10-12, 1x11-12 | |
| Crunch (Leverage Machine) | 3x8-12 | |
| Lateral Raise | 3x8-12 |