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Even people who enjoy some spicy spanking don’t like it when joint or muscle pain interferes with having sex!
If you struggle with leg pain and find that it’s interfering with your sex life, read on to learn which positions provide maximum stimulation with minimum discomfort for the receiving partner.
Table Of Contents
1. Missionary
Missionary is very popular for a lot of reasons. It’s a very intimate position with full-body and face-to-face contact, and it is generally not very demanding for either partner physically.
Both the receiving partner’s weight and (most of) the penetrating partner’s weight are supported by the receiving partner’s back, so there is little stress on their legs.
What We’re Doing
- The receiving partner lies on their back with legs spread and slightly bent. They can take a little time to make sure that their hips and legs are comfortable.
- The penetrating partner lies on top of the receiving partner, face to face. They can use their hands and arms to support themself in a sort of plank position to minimize the weight on the receiving partner.
- The penetrating partner uses their hand to guide their penis in.
2. Missionary With Sex Wedge
This position offers all the benefits of classic missionary (explained above), but it can be even easier on the receiving partner’s hips and legs if they are supported with a very firm cushion, like a sex wedge.
Propping hips up on a wedge also helps the penetrating partner go deeper, and depending on angles and anatomy, may offer more access for clitoral stimulation during sex.
What We’re Doing
- The receiving partner lies on their back with legs spread and slightly bent. They then lift their hips and slide the wedge pillow underneath, with the narrow end towards their head so that their hips are elevated. (Sometimes it’s easier if your partner helps position you on the pillow.)
- The penetrating partner lies on top of the receiving partner, face to face. If the sex wedge is thick or sharply angled, it may work better for the penetrating partner to be up on their knees.
- The penetrating partner uses their hand to guide their penis in.
3. Lying Doggy (Prone)
Doggy-style is one of the most popular sex positions around the world. It allows for deep penetration, it can target the G-spot during penetration, and it leaves hands free for clitoral stimulation.
It can also be difficult if the receiving partner is prone to leg or knee pain, but it doesn’t have to be off the menu! A slight modification has the receiving partner lying prone instead of supporting their weight on their knees, and using a pillow or wedge under the hips provides even more support (and, bonus, makes it even more likely that the penetrating partner will hit the receiving partner’s G-spot).
Also, this modified doggy position works very well for anal sex too.
What We’re Doing
- The receiving partner lies face down with legs slightly spread. They then use a very firm pillow or sex wedge to elevate their hips and angle their rear towards the penetrating partner. (Again, it may be easier to position yourself on the pillow with your partner’s help).
- The penetrating partner lies on top of the receiving partner, also face down. If the pillow or wedge is thick, the penetrating partner can raise themself on their knees a little.
- The penetrating partner uses their hand to guide their penis in.
4. Table Top
We say “table,” but this position works equally well on the kitchen counter, a work bench, or even your bed if it is tall enough; basically, any sturdy piece of furniture that positions the receiving partner right at the penetrating partner’s pelvis will do just fine.
The receiving partner is lying down here, so the weight is off their legs. If the receiving partner’s legs are short enough that they don’t reach the floor (And though she be but little, she is fierce — William Shakespeare), we recommend a couple of footstools, because legs can feel strained if they are unsupported.
What We’re Doing
- The receiving partner lies on their back on a table (or other piece of furniture, as described above) with legs spread. If necessary or desired, they can put a firm pillow or sex wedge under their hips to adjust the height or angle.
- The penetrating partner stands between the receiving partner’s legs.
- The penetrating partner uses their hand to guide their penis in.
5. Standing Doggy
You might think that a standing sex position is not well-suited for people dealing with leg pain, but this actually does work well for many folks.
If you lean against a wall, you can take much of the weight off your legs. Your partner can also support your hips to relieve even more strain.
This position works well for both vaginal and anal penetration, and it leaves the penetrating partner’s hands free to caress and stimulate.
What We’re Doing
- The receiving partner stands facing a wall, legs slightly spread. They can use their hands and arms to brace against the wall.
- The penetrating partner stands behind the receiving partner, also facing the wall.
- The penetrating partner uses their hand to guide their penis in.
6. Spooning
Spooning is a slow, sensual sex position that is usually physically comfortable and low-demand for both partners. It also lets the penetrating partner caress and stimulate the receiving partner.
It is also a good choice for people with leg or knee pain since they will be lying down and don’t have to move their legs or put weight on them at all. Putting a small pillow between the knees will provide additional support.
What We’re Doing
- The receiving partner lies on their side on the bed.
- The penetrating partner lies on their same side behind the receiving partner.
- The receiving partner arches their back to make their vagina more accessible. The penetrating partner uses their hand to guide their penis in.
7. The 69
The 69 position is intimate, connected, and mutually pleasurable. It can also be comfortable (especially if partners are close in height) for people who experience leg pain, since the larger partner is supporting most of the weight of the smaller partner.
What We’re Doing
- Partner 1 (usually the larger, or at least taller, partner) lies on their back on the bed. They can put a firm pillow or sex wedge under their hips to adjust the height or angle if desired.
- Partner 2 straddles Partner 1’s chest and lies face-down so that both partners have access to perform oral sex.
8. Scissors
A lot of mixed-gender couples don’t really consider the scissors position (if they are even aware of it), because it has traditionally been associated with women-loving-women sex. However, it is a low-strain position and there’s no reason why all genders should not give it a try!
Penetration may or may not work, depending on anatomy and angles, but all four hands are free so there are plenty of ways to pleasure each other. Hint: using sex toys on each other is an option here!
What We’re Doing
- Both partners lie on their sides with their legs spread.
- Partner 1 places one leg on top of one of Partner 2’s legs; partners intertwine their legs.
- Partner 2 angles themself so that pelvises are in contact.
Maggie
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