Many people prefer to sit on a chair, whether at home on the sofa or in the office.
But now an expert has revealed the reasons why people shouldn’t sit cross-legged and the long-term effects the habit can have on the body.
There are two ways people choose to sit cross-legged in a chair – either at the knee or at the ankles.
While this may feel very pleasant, it can potentially have some very detrimental effects on the body – from raising blood pressure to decreasing sperm count.
According to The Conversation, an estimated 62 percent of people go right over left, 26 percent prefer the opposite, and 12 percent have no preference.
But Professor Adam Taylor, director of the Clinical Anatomy Learning Center at Lancaster University, has revealed why you should avoid sitting cross-legged.
There are two ways people can sit cross-legged in a chair, either at the knee or at the ankles
malposition of the skeleton
Sitting habits can have a huge impact on the body.
Research suggests that sitting cross-legged can cause your hips to be misaligned — when one hip sits higher than the other.
Crossing your legs can also cause long-term changes in the bone arrangement in your spine and shoulders.
The head can also shift due to the changes in the neck bones caused by overcompensating for spin to keep the center of gravity of the mid-body over the pelvis.
The neck, pelvis, and lower back can also be affected, as sitting cross-legged can lead to muscle imbalances between the right and left sides of the body over time, leading to weakness, tightness, and a limited range of motion.
The benefits of sitting cross-legged
Sitting cross-legged can reduce activity in the obliques — the muscles on the side of your torso — compared to sitting with your legs forward.
This can help relax core muscles and prevent overexertion.
Studies also suggest that sitting in this position can improve the stability of the sacroiliac joints — the ones responsible for transferring weight between the spine and legs.
More seriously, this formation of the legs can also increase the likelihood of scoliosis — when the spine twists and curves to one side — according to Professor Taylor.
sperm production
Research has found that sitting with one leg crossed can affect a man’s sperm count.
Sitting down, the temperature of the testicles already rises by 2°C (35.6F).
But that number increases to 3.5 °C (38.3 °F) when the legs are crossed.
However, the ideal temperature for sperm production is 2 °C to 6 °C (35.6 °F to 42.8 °F) below body temperature, which is around 37 °C (98.6 °F).
Studies suggest that higher temperatures can lower a man’s sperm count and decrease sperm quality — which can make it harder to conceive naturally.
However, males are less likely to sit cross-legged than females.
Professor Taylor said: ‘Because of the differences in the anatomy of men and women, it is probably much easier for women to sit cross-legged – especially since men have a limited range of motion at the hip.’
blood clot
Sitting cross-legged clogs blood vessels in the lower limbs.
This slows the speed of blood through your veins and can lead to blood clots.
Blood clots are gel-like collections of blood that form when blood goes from liquid to partially solid.
Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot in the leg or pelvis and is most commonly caused by lack of exercise – for example, sitting for a long time at work or recovering from surgery.
Blood clots can be a normal physical reaction, e.g. B. when the skin is cut or scraped as it prevents excessive bleeding and turns into scabs.
Professor Taylor concluded: ‘It is probably better to avoid crossing legs if possible.
“Nonetheless, many of the risk factors associated with crossing legs are likely exacerbated by other underlying issues, such as sedentary lifestyles and obesity.
“Against this background, the most important advice is not to sit in the same position for too long and to stay active regularly.”