10 Behind The Scenes Reasons For Star Trek Characters' Quirks
2. Frakes Did His Back In And The Leg Lift Was Born
Jonathan Frakes asserts dominance over almost every chair he encounters in Star Trek: The Next Generation, but far from the meme-bait this might feel like, it was due to a very real-life issue that has followed him for most of his life. Wil Wheaton confirmed on this Reddit thread that a back injury was the cause of Frakes' iconic leg lift and leans.
Frakes sustained an injury prior to his casting on Star Trek, when his job moving furniture resulted in damage to his back. This meant that he struggled with standing for long periods of time, which then in turn, led to a slight lean to the left.
Riker is also well known for resting his leg against consoles and the odd rock if he can find it, which was Frakes' way of taking some of the pressure off, but his interactions with Starfleet's various chairs is what has stuck long in the memory of the show's fans. Don't beleive us, check out the compilation video above.