Why you should stop crossing your legs… Right now!

As women, we normally get taught to cross our legs and “sit like a lady”. However, this habit can have some serious side affects. Here are some of the consequences involved in crossing our legs:

1. Blood pressure

A study published by the US National Library of Medicine demonstrated that it’s best to keep our feet flat on the floor. “The results indicated that (blood pressure) increased significantly with the crossed leg position”, researchers explained.

2. Heart conditions

In a separate study, crossing our legs was linked to an increased risk in heart disease. “Blood pressure increases when legs are crossed and this increases the estimation of cardiovascular risk for many patients”, the researchers determined.

3. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Crossing our legs may also lead to deep vein thrombosis, which is particularly troublesome for older women. America’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has previously reported that “sitting for a long time, especially with crossed legs,” can increase our risks of DVT.

4. Muscular tension

Unsurprisingly, muscular tension throughout our hips and limbs has also been attributed to crossed legs. A British study recently reported that, “crossing the legs may be functional in the build-up of active or passive tension between sacrum and femur”.

As with anything, it seems that moderation is key. Sitting cross-legged for extended periods of time can have these health impacts. However, sitting cross-legged for a short while is unlikely to damage the body immediately.

Will these medical insights change the way you sit? Do you sit cross-legged, or in some other way?