The habit of crossing the legs while sitting is not healthy. The most common is to cross your legs while sitting. Some people cross them at the knee and some do it at the ankle. most common to do by Knee, right or left, and it is also the most harmful posture. As a curiosity, the vast majority cross their legs on the right (62%), 26% on the left, and 12% cross them on one side and the other. But this position is as comfortable as it seems to us it is not good for health, In an article published in The Conversation, Adam Taylor, Professor and Director of the Clinical Anatomy Learning Center at Lancaster University, takes a detailed look at this. Health Effects of Crossing Your Legs When Sittin, nothing happens if you do it from time to time, but those who sit in a chair for hours a day can be at a loss. negative consequences,
what happens to your body when you cross your legs
Anatomy experts point out that it is worse to cross your legs at the knees than at the ankles. These are the immediate results on your body:
- hip stays Unmatchedplacing one higher than the other.
- Sangre has more difficulty moving blood vessels in the feet, which increases blood pressure Since the heart has to pump harder to circulate the blood. also increases the risk of clots,
long term health consequences
Professor Adam Taylor explains that the longer you stay cross-legged and the more often you do it, the worse the health consequences. This can affect you in the long term:
- Pain in the neck, An imbalance in the hip bones affects the spine and neck. Keep in mind that the spine is always trying to compensate for bone imbalances to keep the center of gravity above the pelvis, which can lead to cervical misalignment.
- scoliosis, Sitting cross-legged for a long time increases the risk of spinal deviation or scoliosis.
- lower back pain, Incorrect posture, such as crossing the legs, can strain the muscles of the pelvis and lower back, which can lead to pain and contractions.
- hip and thigh discomfort, Crossing your legs strains the gluteal muscles on one side and weakens them. It also affects the outer face of the hip and thigh, which is known as trochanteric pain.
- tingling feet, This pose can compress the peroneal nerve (a branch of the sciatic nerve) in the lower leg, causing tingling in the foot.
- lowers sperm production, The temperature of the testicles should be between 2º and 6ºC but crossing the legs can increase this to 3.5ºC. Studies suggest that crossing the legs too much can affect the quantity and quality of sperm.
Are there any benefits of sitting cross-legged?
Taylor points out that people who have one leg longer than the other crossing them while seated can improve pelvic alignment. This asana also allows muscles like the hips to relax. oblique (located at the point where you place your hands on your hips when you come into akimbo).
famous pose of yoga meditation (lotus position) also has benefits, although it is not known whether spending too much time in it can have the same effects as crossing your legs.
best seating position
In addition to these specific benefits, the professor points out that it is better to avoid crossing your legs while sitting.
ideal to support feet on a footrest not stay in one position for long and get up from the chair regularly.
