Leg Crossing - Stop Sitting with Crossed Legs

Sitting with your legs crossed is a very common way of sitting; however, there are some negative side effects from sitting in this position for too long.

1. It Contributes to Neck and Back Pain:

Sitting with your legs crossed leaves your hips uneven and forces your pelvis bone to rotate which can produce unnecessary pressure on the neck and the lower and middle sections of the back. The more pressure is placed on your spine, the increasing likelihood that it will develop into a long-term issue.

2. It Negatively Affects Your Posture:

Those who sit cross-legged are found to slouch more often, which means that they are not walking the recommended way with open shoulders and an aligned spine. Poor posture increases pain in our joints.

3. It Can Negatively Affect Your Nerves:

While it is unlikely to cause permanent nerve damage from sitting with your legs crossed, the position does have a direct effect on the nerve behind the knee which can contribute to pain in one leg, foot numbness and walking problems.

For optimum health, researchers recommend sitting with your knees and ankles at 90-degree angles and keeping your pelvis balanced as much as possible. Breaking the habit of sitting with your legs crossed at the knee may take time, but if you start slow and stay consistent, you will notice an improvement. Try breaking up your time sitting with crossed legs into 15-30 minute intervals and allow yourself to stretch periodically to offset the posture.

  Search Library Topics      Search Newspaper Columns