Table of contents:
- The result of crossing your legs while sitting
- 1. Increase blood pressure
- 2. Cause neck and back pain
- 3. The pelvic load is not balanced
- 4. Adversely affects the nerves of the feet
- How to sit properly?
Wherever you go, you will often find people sitting with their legs crossed. Sitting with your legs crossed for women does seem more graceful and elegant. However, did you know that it turns out that this habit has a negative impact on the body? Maybe you have experienced cramps, tingling, and numbness if you cross your legs for too long. If you are an office worker who spends time at your desk and consciously or rarely cross your legs when you sit, then you are at risk of being in danger from this attitude.
The result of crossing your legs while sitting
Here are some of the dangers you need to know if you are accustomed to sitting with your legs crossed.
1. Increase blood pressure
Research from Blood Pressure Monitoring states that sitting with your legs crossed (especially crossing your legs in the knee area) can increase systolic blood pressure by as much as 7 percent and diastolic by 2 percent.
This condition is caused because the leg that is crossed pushes more blood to the heart. Although crossing your legs can cause a temporary increase in blood pressure, it doesn't mean it will harm your heart health, or cause a particularly risky boost in blood pressure.
However, if you are at risk of developing blood clots, it is best to discuss with your doctor how healthy sitting is and how your posture can affect your health.
2. Cause neck and back pain
Crossing your legs is not a good position for the spine. The upper knee will put pressure on the lower knee, while the pelvis is in a bent position which causes one of the pelvic bones to rotate and apply pressure to the lower back, middle, to the neck.
If done continuously, what will happen is pain in the neck and back. American physical therapist Vivian Eisenstandt also confirms that people who sit cross-legged tend to experience back and neck pain. Based on research from the National Health Service in the United States (US), the dangers of crossing your legs while sitting are disturbing the stability of the spine.
3. The pelvic load is not balanced
When you sit with your legs crossed, what happens is your pelvis is holding one side of your body weight. This position also causes the pelvic bones to bend. According to cardiologist dr. Stephen T. Sinatra, FACC, Depressed hip joints can cause blood clots in the legs. This can make you prone to swelling of the veins under your legs and blood clots.
4. Adversely affects the nerves of the feet
Crossing your legs can put pressure on the peroneal nerve behind your knee. The peroneal nerve is the nerve that controls most of the sensation for the lower leg, including the toes. Crossing your legs for a long time will give you an unpleasant sensation in your feet and lower legs such as cramps or tingling. Although this cramping or tingling sensation is only temporary, if it is done every day continuously and for a long time it can have a negative impact on the nerves of your feet.
Maintaining a certain posture for several hours can lead to a condition called peroneal nerve palsy thus triggering " drop foot “, A condition where you can't lift part of your leg. However, this condition is very unlikely to occur. This is because people usually tend to move their legs when they feel uncomfortable.
How to sit properly?
Good posture, whether sitting or standing, has been shown to prevent back problems and lower the risk of heart disease and spinal problems. It also helps improve lung function. Naresh C. Rao, a doctor of osteopathic medicine and clinical instructor at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City said, for workers who have to sit for a long time, pay attention to proper sitting.
When you sit down, keep your legs straight and not hanging. Instead, your feet should also touch the floor so that there is no excess pressure on any of the spots. Also, for those of you who spend all day sitting at work, try to take a 5-minute walk after 55 minutes of sitting down. This will have a good effect on your body and posture.
