is it bad (health-wise) to cross your legs???

Question

i have sat with my legs crossed at the knee probably starting when i was around seven now i am fourty. i cross them every time i sit down, and always with the same leg right over left. eventually after a long period of crossing, my top leg gets numb. i have heard that crossing your legs can cause vein problems, back problems, and hip problems, i dont have any at all, but is this true that it is bad? do you cross your legs also? and are you aware it might be bad?

Answer 1

yes it can be. esp. the way you cross them. when it is the same over and over again it can damage the veins.

http://health.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=148124

this should help!

Answer 2

Certainly it isn't good for your back. My osteopath told me that if I don't do anything else (like improve my posture) he would be really happy if I would just promise to stop crossing my legs. If you think about it, it really throws your back out. When sitting down you should really be completely straight with your weight evenly spread over both buttocks. Crossing your legs automatically puts this out of whack, warps the shape of your spine etc. Same goes for your hips, and I have heard that the pressure on the calves and thighs can cause vein problems.

Answer 3

I've heard that a few times before, and it makes sense. It constricts the blood flow in the leg and makes the veins overwork to pump blood, which can cause enlarging or varacose veins. the stress (even if yiu dont feel it) on the joints in the leg, hip, and lower back can really have a bad effect.

Answer 4

that's in case you've been a royalty in the 1800s! it is the twenty first century and crossing ones legs must be that human being's decision. in the experience that your professor would not like it then it truly is his project for being a sexist pig. i'm certain he does no longer bat an eyelid if a guy does an same. even with the actual incontrovertible truth that in case you've been donning a mini skirt or similar then that position of legs would were revealing a touch too a lot than you meant. also ghetto skill street. So y'recognize from the ghetto... stuff like that. i'm of direction no longer from the ghetto for this reason won't be able to clarify to boot as i'd've achieved if i grow to be.

Answer 5

Dec. 1, 1999 (Atlanta) -- People complaining of numbness and weakness in the extremities -- the legs and arms -- often associate these symptoms with stroke and seek emergency care. But frequently these symptoms are caused by nerve compression injuries, according to an article in the October issue of the journal IM: Internal Medicine. Neurologists say knowing which nerves are commonly affected can help prevent expensive and unnecessary diagnostic imaging.

"Compression injuries occur when bones and ligaments [constrict] nerves in the arms and legs," says Robert Schwendimann, MD. "In the upper extremities, an injury to the medial nerve occurs most often at the wrist and affects the hands. Of course, this is known as carpal tunnel syndrome. In the lower extremities, injury to the peroneal nerve occurs most often at the knee and affects the feet. This is commonly known as footdrop." Schwendimann is the study author and assistant professor of neurology at Louisiana State University Medical Center in Shreveport.

The peroneal nerve passes over the bony structure on the outside of the knee. Affected individuals tend to have their affected foot pointing toward the ground when they lift it up (hence the term "footdrop") and usually lift that foot up higher when walking.

Schwendimann says there are many causes of nerve compression. "Carpal tunnel syndrome is associated with repetitive activities and frequent use of power tools. It's also more common in patients with diabetes and hypothyroidism," he says. "Footdrop is associated with habitual leg crossing, prolonged squatting, and bedrest. In either case, patients almost always report weakness, numbness, tingling, and pain."

Answer 6

as i read this i had my legs crossed. I immediatly uncrossed them =) lol... its a habit for me to. idk what it is. but i didnt kno that it was bad. Thanks

Answer 7

No not at all.