The Surprising Health Risks of Crossing Your Legs

We don't always pay attention to how we sit, but it's time to be aware that certain sitting positions could be detrimental to your health.

According to an article by Adam Taylor, Professor and Director of the Center for Learning Clinical Anatomy at Lancaster University, published in The Conversation, findings were drawn from research on sitting with crossed legs. This position, where one leg is higher than the other, can change the speed at which blood flows through the vessels in the lower limbs, thereby increasing the risk of blood clots and elevated blood pressure.

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Moreover, if this is a habitual practice, there are additional health concerns to be aware of:

Scoliosis – Frequently sitting with crossed legs can increase the risk of spinal scoliosis.

Head posture might be affected – In this sitting position, as one side of the body is weaker than the other, the neck can be impacted, and head posture might not be aligned due to changes in the neck bones.

Additionally, there's an imbalance in the muscles of the pelvis and lower back due to poor posture.

Changes in muscle length and bone alignment – Sitting with crossed legs can lead to changes in muscle lengths and bone arrangements in the pelvis. Furthermore, crossing legs might lead to a misalignment of the spine and shoulders.

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