When we sit down on a chair or sofa, it is almost an automatic movement to legs to do about each other. Everyone has a different one preference: left over right or vice versa. It feels like a natural sitting position. But is it good for you to sit like this?
Legs crossed
Whether we’re sitting at our desk, in a cafe or in the doctor’s waiting room: we almost always cross our legs. Sitting with the legs crossed is a pleasant sitting position for many people. It makes sitting upright easier, because the pelvis is stabilized and your abdominal muscles are less tense. Are you wearing a skirt or a dress? Then the leg cross also ideal to protect against prying eyes.
Harmful or not?
Although it may feel good to with your legs crossed sitting does not necessarily mean that it is a good thing to do. Quest for example, a 2014 study shows as evidence. That study showed that people who cross their legs for more than three hours a day are more likely to develop bad posture than people who don’t.
However, another study from 2015 shows that sitting forward is especially bad for your posture. Sitting with your legs crossed turned out not to be the best main reason to be that people were having problems with their attitudes. ‘s advice Quest was that you regularly have to change your sitting position during the day. Then you limit the damage as much as possible.
Pain in joints
However, there are indeed people who experience complaints by crossing their legs. So reports Women’s Health that it puts more pressure on the joints and glutes. Crossed legs can also lead to higher blood pressure, writes MaxVandaag† Do you sit with your legs crossed for a long time? Then you can suffer from tingling or a sleeping leg.
Finally, there are often sounds that the leg cross can cause varicose veins. No scientific research has been done on this yet, so there is no evidence for it. Yet professor of dermatology understands Tamar Nijsten Erasmus MC thinks so, she tells de Volkskrant† Crossing the legs puts pressure on the veins, which can lead to varicose veins. She only mentions that there are many other risk factors that play a greater role (such as overweight or old age).
How bad is it?
In short: it is not harmful to sit with your legs crossed. Most people do not get any (long-term) complaints from it. Do you want to prevent any kind of complaints? Make sure you change position often during the day.
Source: Tips and Facts | Image: BrunoPress, Bad Teacher
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