Backstroke: kneeling, with her leg on his shoulder
Backstroke is a face-to-face vaginal-sex position. She lies on her back with one leg straight on the bed and the other raised vertically against his shoulder; he kneels upright between her legs, straddling the straight one, with his hands on her waist. He sets the rhythm, you can see each other's faces, and the raised leg allows deep penetration.
Also known as: Back stroke
Anatomy and biomechanics
She lies on her back on the bed with her arms stretched above her head. One leg rests straight on the mattress; the other is raised straight up and rests against his shoulder. He kneels upright between her legs, straddling her straight leg, his torso upright or leaning slightly forward, and holds her waist or hips. From there he penetrates her and controls the rhythm with his hips. With the leg raised, penetration can be deep. You have eye contact, and he can kiss or caress her raised foot, but not her mouth. Effort is moderate: his knees bear the load, and she needs some flexibility in the back of the raised leg.
Why this position works
Many couples like that they can see each other's faces while he sets the pace and she can relax on her back. The raised leg changes the angle and allows deeper penetration, which some people enjoy and others prefer to keep shallow. His hands are close to her hips and clitoris, so caresses are easy to add. How it feels varies from person to person.
Variations of this position
Variation 1: With a pillow under her hips
Same position, with a firm pillow under her buttocks to raise her pelvis to his height.
Raising her pelvis lines it up better with his while he kneels, so he does not have to bend forward. The angle of penetration changes and some people notice more pressure on the front wall of the vagina. Her legs and his position stay the same.
- She places a firm pillow under her buttocks and lies back.
- He kneels upright between her legs, straddling her straight leg.
- She raises the other leg and rests it against his shoulder.
- Adjust the pillow until penetration is comfortable for both.
Variation 2: Bent knee, foot on his chest
Instead of resting the straight leg on his shoulder, she bends the knee and places her foot on his chest.
Bending the raised leg needs much less flexibility in the back of the thigh. With her foot on his chest, she can push gently to control how close he comes and how deep he goes. The other leg stays straight on the bed and he remains kneeling upright.
- She lies on her back with one leg straight on the bed.
- He kneels upright between her legs, straddling the straight leg.
- She bends the other knee and rests her foot flat on his chest.
- She uses gentle pressure of the foot to set the distance and depth.
Variation 3: Both legs on his shoulders
She raises both legs and rests them against his shoulders while he stays kneeling upright.
With both legs raised, her pelvis tilts up more and penetration usually becomes deeper. He holds her thighs instead of her waist. It needs more flexibility from her and makes it harder to reach the clitoris, so it is better kept short and gentle.
- Start in the main position, with one leg on his shoulder.
- She raises the second leg and rests it against his other shoulder.
- He holds her thighs and moves slowly at first.
- Lower one leg again if the depth or the stretch is too much.
Variation 4: He leans forward onto his hands
He leans forward and rests his hands on the bed on either side of her, bringing the raised leg closer to her chest.
Leaning forward brings your faces closer and folds her raised leg towards her chest, which stretches it more and changes the angle of penetration. His weight shifts onto his hands and knees instead of staying upright. He must not lean his weight on her leg.
- Start in the main position, with her leg on his shoulder.
- He leans forward slowly and places his hands on the bed beside her chest.
- She tells him how far her leg can fold without strain.
- He keeps his weight on his hands and moves with short strokes.
✓ Tips
- Put a pillow or folded blanket under his knees if the bed is hard.
- If the back of her raised leg pulls, she can bend the knee slightly or rest her foot on his chest instead of his shoulder.
- With the leg raised, penetration can be deep: start slowly and adjust depth, and stop if there is pain.
- Use lubricant if needed and a condom to protect against STIs and pregnancy.
- He can use one hand to caress her clitoris while keeping the other on her waist.
- Switch legs or lower the leg to rest whenever she needs to.
Key facts
- Interaction type
- Face-to-face vaginal penetration, he kneels
- Active anatomy
- Penis
- Receptive anatomy
- Vagina
- Main stimulation
- Deep penetration
- Setups and participants
- Couple · 2 people Hetero
Frequently asked questions
Is it suitable for beginners?
Yes, if she has reasonable flexibility in the raised leg. If not, bend the knee slightly or rest the foot on his chest.
How can it be made more comfortable?
Put a pillow under his knees, and if she wants another angle, a pillow under her hips. Lower the raised leg whenever it gets tired.
What if the penetration is too deep?
Lower the raised leg a little, ask him to lean back or use shorter movements. Depth is easy to adjust in this position.
Safety and evidence
This section summarizes anatomical and clinical evidence relevant to this position. The sources provide context; they do not show that a specific position guarantees pleasure, orgasm or a particular type of stimulation.
Anatomical variability
Vaginal shape, axis and dimensions vary considerably from person to person. As a result, depth and comfort may differ even when using the same position.
Pain and deep penetration
If penetration causes deep, recurrent or persistent pain, it is advisable to reduce the depth or stop the activity. If the problem continues, a professional assessment is recommended.
Lubrication and comfort
When there is dryness, friction or discomfort, a suitable lubricant may make sexual activity easier and improve comfort. Its use is not universally necessary.
Clitoral stimulation and orgasm
For many women, the most reliable route to orgasm is clitoral stimulation, direct or indirect. A position that leaves hands free or lets the clitoris be rubbed makes it easier to add during penetration.
STI protection: condoms and dental dams
A condom, put on from the start and used throughout, is the most effective way to reduce sexually transmitted infections during penetration. For oral sex, a condom or a dental dam lowers the risk.
Reviewed by Francisco Muñoz, editor ·
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