The way many individuals choose to sit on a chair, whether at home, on the sofa, or at work, can affect their health. Science Alert reported that an expert has explained why individuals should not sit with their legs crossed. He also discussed the long-term impact the practice might have on the human body.
Sitting With Legs Crossed Could Be Bad
People choose to sit on a chair with their legs crossed in two ways: at the knees or at the ankles. It could be uncomfortable for some, but how could it harm health?
For starters, a study suggests that sitting cross-legged might lead to misaligned hips, with one hip higher than the other. Another study reveals that it can alter the rate at which blood travels through the blood arteries in the lower limbs, increasing the risk of blood clots.
Most evidence shows that crossing at the knees is worse than crossing at the ankles. Sitting in this position might produce a rise in blood pressure owing to blood collecting in the veins and your heart having to battle against this.
This increases the danger of blood vessel damage, so you should have your feet level on the floor when measuring your blood pressure.
The Issue in Sitting With the Legs Crossed
In an article in The Conversation, Professor Adam Taylor of Lancaster University's Clinical Anatomy Learning Centre explained why people should avoid sitting with their legs crossed.
Misaligned Hips
Sitting patterns have a huge influence on the body. According to research, sitting cross-legged might create hip misalignment and can cause long-term abnormalities in the arrangement of bones in the spine and shoulders.
The head may also shift out of position due to alterations in the neck bones produced by the spin overcompensating to keep the body's center of gravity above the pelvis.
Sitting cross-legged over time can develop a muscular imbalance between the right and left sides of the body, resulting in weakness, stiffness, and a restricted range of motion in the neck, pelvis, and lower back. Professor Taylor said this leg construction could also raise the probability of scoliosis.
Low Sperm Count
According to research, sitting with one leg on top of the other might reduce a man's sperm count as it increases the temperature of the testicles by 2 degrees Celsius (35.6F).
When the legs are crossed, the temperature rises to 3.5 degrees Celsius (38.3 degrees Fahrenheit). Yet, the optimal temperature for sperm generation is 2 degrees Celsius to 6 degrees Celsius (35.6 degrees Fahrenheit to 42.8 degrees Fahrenheit) below body temperature, roughly 37 degrees Celsius (98.6F).
Temperatures higher than this can result in low sperm quality, making it harder to conceive naturally. But men are less likely to sit with their legs crossed than women, likely due to their anatomy.
Cause Blood Clots
Crossing the legs obstructs the blood arteries in your lower limbs because this hinders blood flow through your veins and might result in blood clots.
Blood clots are gel-like clumps of blood that develop as blood solidifies. Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot in the leg or pelvis, most usually caused by sitting for lengthy periods of time at work or recuperating from surgery. Blood clots are a typical biological reaction that stops excessive bleeding and forms a scab when the skin is wounded or scraped.
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