Is it true that sitting a leg on the leg is harmful?

Many believe that sitting, throwing one leg to the other, although it is convenient, but harmful to health. We decided to check if there are any scientific data behind this opinion and is there any sense in those who like to sit so much to change their habits.

Many media and Internet sites warn readers from a long stay in the leg sitting on the leg (Live24, Bazaar.ru, MC "Ideal clinic", "ABC of Health", Womanel). In 1999, Pharmaton, which produces food supplements, even Launched The advertising campaign “The Great American Crossout (Screening)”, calling for American women for 24 hours to abandon the habit of crossing their legs. According to their statement, this pose contributed to the deterioration of blood circulation and the development of varicose veins. List of negative consequences Includes Diseases, from violations of posture to impotence and infertility.

Five negative medical consequences from sitting leg on the leg, most often mentioned in online publications: varicose veins, increased pressure, nerves paralysis, joint damage and posture. We decided to find medical research on each of the five points and find out whether it is really dangerous to sitting so much for health.

1. Varicose veins

Fremingham research, one of the most famous and large in the field of heart and vascular diseases, was initiated in the USA in 1948 and continues to this day. In 1988, according to the results of 16 years of observation, scientists They came To the conclusion that the main risk factors for the development of varicose veins in men were smoking and lack of physical activity for men, in women - a lack of physical activity, high blood pressure and overweight. Genetics also played an important role: more than 80% of people with varicose veins had the same disease at least one of the parents. Many other scientific research Studied Varicose risk factors. None of them cross the legs in the list Not hit.

There is one nuance: people who already have varicose veins and, as a result, an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (TGV), is not recommended for a long time to be in a sedentary position, including the leg on the leg. During prolonged immobility, for example, during long trips or flights in the aircraft, the blood flow in the veins slows down, because the calf muscles do not contract and do not pour blood towards the heart. But usually thrombosis develops in people with other risk factors, and in healthy people it occurs extremely rarely.

Conclusion: There is no evidence that crossing the legs increases the risk of varicose veins.

2. Increased blood pressure

One of the first major research, which included the pressure of pressure with different positions of the legs, was carried out in the clinic of treatment with hypertension in Istanbul. Scientists several times measured the pressure to the participants of the experiment: with crossed legs and legs in a normal position. Blood pressure increased at the moment when the subjects threw their feet on the leg, but after three minutes the pressure returned to the original indicators.

There are two possible reasons why crossing the legs can lead to a temporary increase in blood pressure. According to one From them, blood rushes to the chest at the moment when a person lifts one leg to throw it to another, as a result of which the pressure rises. According to another - When crossing, the muscles of the legs are subjected to static load, their blood vessels are compressed. Because of this, resistance to natural blood flow increases, leading to increased pressure. After returning to the starting position (legs parallel to each other), the pressure returns to normal.

Conclusion: The crossing of the legs really leads to a temporary increase in blood pressure, but there are no evidence of long -term changes.

3. Paralysis (in particular, the fibula)

Of course, if you sit in one position for a long time, the legs can flow. The reason is that when crossing the legs, the pressure on the fibitive nerve under the knee increases, which is responsible for the sensitivity of the lower leg of the lower legs and foot. But if there was a sensation of tingling in the limbs, it will be temporary and quickly pass as soon as a person changes his pose.

In principle, the preservation of the same sedentary pose for many hours can cause paralysis of the fibula. However, in the South Korean research Among the main reasons for the appearance of this type of paralysis, sitting on a chair in a leg on the leg is not mentioned. Another pose with crossed legs is mentioned, more common in Korean culture. In the study, it is called “Korean style”.

Conclusion: Long-term numbness and paralysis are unlikely consequences of crossing the legs, since we tend to change the pose, as soon as something goes numb or it becomes inconvenient for us.

4. Problems with the muscles of the pelvis and hip joints

On the Internet you can find fearsas if due to the crossed state of the legs, the muscles of the inside of the thigh become shorter, and the muscles of the outside are longer, as a result of which the joints are at risk of displacement and the risk of dislocations increases.

Study The University Medical Center of Rotterdam showed that this is not so and that in this regard, from the pose, the leg on the leg on the leg is even beneficial. The participants in the experiment were sitting: a) putting their legs straight; b) crossing the legs in the knees; c) crossing the legs in ankles; d) crossing the legs in the knees and ankles.

After that, scientists simulated the exact angles of the bend in embalmed human joints, which allowed them to measure what muscles work when we cross our legs. They found that crossing the legs in the knees increases the lengthening of the pear -shaped muscle by 11% compared to the pose when both legs are on the floor. The authors of the study came to the conclusion that such a pose increases the stability of the hip joints in the same way as tension of the abdominal muscles.

Conclusion: The leg of the leg on the leg to some extent is even useful for the hip joints.

5. Negative effect on posture

There are several opinions on this subject. One of research It showed that people who sat in his leg on the leg for more than three hours a day, more often stooped. However another The experiment showed that problems with posture disappeared when people were asked to consciously sit with a flat back, albeit with their crossed legs.

Conclusion: The tendency to stoop depends on the habit of a person to round or not to round the back, and not on the position of the legs.

So, if you want to throw your foot on your leg, you can do this without fear of harm. The main thing is not to sit in the same position (any) for too long, risking to get numbness of the limbs.

Treatment

What do our verdicts mean?

Read on the topic:

1. Sitting, Squatting, and the Evolutionary Biology of Human Inactivity
2. Squatting is good for health, scientists believe
3. Active Lifestyles Related to Excellent Self-Rated Health and Quality of Life
4. Prolonged seating increases the risk of many diseases