You may have gotten used to crossing your legs at the knee. It can seem like a natural and sophisticated way to sit. But the body is happiest when it's constituent parts are aligned, and crossed legs create imbalances. This is one of those seemingly benign habits that might be worth changing.
The straw that broke the camel’s back
Crossing your legs once in a while won’t kill you. But it’s one of those things that, as a daily habit or if you do it for long periods of time, can be bad for your back.
When you cross your legs, you put your pelvis in a rotated position, which can stress your lower back. This can lead to pain, stiffness, and other problems.
Until you’re able to break the habit, try to do it for short periods of time and alternate legs. And sitting in a chair with lumbar support is always a good idea. When you’re out and about — on an airplane or at a restaurant — you can roll up a jacket or put a bag between your lower back and the back of your chair.
Here are some tips to help you avoid back pain from crossing your legs:
Avoid crossing your legs for long periods of time.
Alternate legs when you do cross your legs.
Sit in a chair with good lumbar support.
Get up and move around every 20-30 minutes. You don’t have to worry as much about your positioning if you keep moving throughout the day.
The main issue is this: Over time, .the habit of crossing your legs has a tendency to create asymetries in the pevis and spine. With misalignment, and with muscles and ligaments pulling unequally on bones, we’re more likely to experience pain and impaired mobility.
Looking to get good at breaking bad habits? We wrote an article to help you get started.
“In the long-term, a tilted pelvis caused by leg-crossing can result in extreme lower back pain and discomfort, while continuing to sit in this way may result in more severe misalignment of the spine. Sufferers are often known to experience chronic pain particularly in the lumbar of the spine but this can move all the way up to your neck.”
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