2023-04-19 01:03:26
Looking for the most comfortable option to remain seated becomes a necessity, especially when the office seems like our second home, but really?why do we cross our legs? The reasons go beyond the search for comfort and can cause health problems.
In fact, an article published by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health revealed that holding your legs crossed for long periods of time can lead to hip misalignment and problems with leg circulation, as well as general blood pumping.
Photo: iStock
What does it mean when a person crosses their legs?
To understand why do we cross our legs, there are different reasons:
In general, a person looks for the most comfortable way to spend time sitting, this may seem like a normal activity, however, repeating this attitude of crossing the legs when sitting can also represent a defensive or uncomfortable attitude.
By crossing our legs, what we do is close the space we occupy, that is, we keep our body closed towards ourselves, this could be interpreted as a defensive posture in which access or opening towards the person is not allowed.
It has been observed that people who feel in an uncomfortable situation or moment tend not only to cross their legs but also to hide one of their hands in their thighs, this denotes a rejection of the situation or person with whom they are interacting.
On the other hand, when a person crosses their legs in the direction of the person they are interacting with, it can mean interest in what the other person is saying or in the person themselves. This can also be a sign of attraction between people.
Photo: iStock
Why shouldn’t you cross your legs?
Although it is comfortable for many people to maintain this position, it can bring health complications. From circulation problems in the legs to the misalignment of the hip.
A study published by the Canadian Magazine of Science explains some risks of staying in this position for a long time, for example, there may be changes in the lengths of the muscles and bones of the pelvis.
The affectations can reach the posture in general and cause pain especially in the lower back and even the neck.
Sitting cross-legged for a long time also increases the risk of developing scoliosis, in addition to worsening the quality of sperm in men, hindering fertility.
Photo: iStock
What is the correct way to sit in a chair?
To avoid problems that may cause sit cross-leggedMayo Clinic experts, point out that the correct way to sit is:
- Adjust the height of your chair so that your feet are not hanging or your knees are too bent, that is, that you can effortlessly support your feet on the floor or footrest.
- Keep knees at or below hip level. Obviously don’t cross your legs and keep your ankles ahead of your knees.
- Adjust your chair so that it can support your back or help yourself with a rolled towel or a pillow that supports the lower back
- The top of the screen should be at eye level or very slightly below
- Keep your head and shoulders in line with your torso
- relax your shoulders
now that you know why do we cross our legs, We remind you that whenever there is discomfort or inability to stop crossing your legs, consult a specialist to rule out more serious problems.
To complement this information, we leave you this video with some yoga postures that you can do to improve your posture and reduce back pain.
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