is it bad to cross your legs?

Question

i have sat with my legs crossed probably starting when i was around seven now i am fourty. i cross them every time i sit down, eventually after a long priod 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

I constantly cross my legs as well, and I got sick of people telling me i'd get bad veins, so one time when I was at the doctor I asked them and he said that it makes no difference.. if it was doing harm, your body would tell you to stop doing (as it does when it's going numb... you move!)

Answer 2

I have had two hip surgeries. All of the surgeons I have seen, have said that even people who have no hip problems should not cross their legs. Reasons: Poor circulation; this can interfere with heart problems and cause pain in the legs. Hip stability; The hips have a natural aliment. Crossing your legs is not natural. This can cause wear and tear on the joint. Back pain; can cause lower back pain. The spine has three natural curves and when you sit crossed legged some tend to shift their body weight taking the spine out of ailment also.

Answer 3

I have no definitive answer about the vein thing, but it is, in fact, bad for your spine. Just think about the way you are leaning and having to compensate for that -- this causing your spine to curve unnaturally.

Prolonged periods of this will indeed cause undue pain and misalignment. My chiropractor yells at me all the time. The best sitting position will always be in the proper height chair with your feet flat on the floor.

As I type this my legs are crossed -- my own darn fault!

Answer 4

My chiorpractor tells me it is bad for your spinal alignment to cross your legs. It also can cut off circulation which I have heard can contribute to vein problems. So, although I hate it, I would say yes. Best to sit with your legs crossed at the ankles.

Answer 5

I cross my legs to when I sit, but when I catch myself with my legs crossed I uncross them right away.

The pressure of the weight of one leg on another, may hinder the nerves and veins/arteries that run along your leg, causing sensations and or varicose veins down the long run.

I know some who wrap their leg around the other, it's like choking of the nerves and veins/arteries of blood of your leg.

So yes, even though it may seem comfortable to do, it is not good for your legs.

You can still be ladylike without having to cross your legs. Keep your legs closed.

Answer 6

I've always heard it causes varicose veins, because when you cross your legs, you compromise the circulation in your legs, and soon your veins begin to bulge and leak. That's what I was told, so I cross my ankles. But if you don't have any problems, than I wouldn't worry about it

Answer 7

I just paid a large sum of money and wore a compression stocking for a week to fix the varicose in one leg; the varicose veins were caused by crossing my legs. It is a hard habit to break, but you should try not to cross your legs.

Answer 8

Well I sure hope not! I cross my legs all the time. Sometimes my leg gets numb, too, but I guess maybe that's just because of the circulation.

Answer 9

It's bad if you plan to fly on a plane. You can get DVT (deep vein thrombosis) where clots for an block the veins in your legs.

Answer 10

Yes, I had heard it can be bad, to cross your legs to much. It can cause medical problems. it cuts off blood circulation too.