What can happen if you sit with your legs crossed?

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Jan , 23. 12. 2025

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Many people take care of their health the best they can. In the article you will find five reasons why you should avoid sitting with your legs crossed. It can cause a range of health problems without you knowing about them. If this position is a favorite for you, you should reconsider whether it’s worth it.

The position can paralyze muscles

Nerve palsy is the first reason not to cross your legs. If you sit with your legs crossed for a longer time, it can cause a condition called nerve palsy. You may be unable to lift your leg, your muscles can become paralyzed and you can even damage the peroneal nerve. This position is also said to increase blood pressure.

If you are with a person with high blood pressure, you should not sit next to or close to them with your legs crossed. According to a study it was confirmed that if you have crossed ankles, there is no increase in blood pressure. The changes were only temporary and returned to normal after the person assumed a different position. Crossed legs can cause poor posture.

According to research, if you sit with your legs crossed more than three hours a day, it may happen that your shoulders and pelvis tilt to the side and your head tilts forward. This leads to a misalignment of the spine and incorrect posture of the whole body. And that means muscle pain and stiffness.

Crossed legs cause swelling in pregnancy

Joint pain is mainly known to athletes and active people who practice sports. Crossing your legs can cause injuries to the neck, pelvis, lower back or knees. We should especially avoid crossing our legs if you already have knee pain.

During pregnancy do not put one leg over the other – although it is absolutely safe for the baby, you can cause ankle swelling and leg cramps, which are not pleasant for a pregnant woman. If you notice any symptom, remember in what position you most often sit not only at the computer, but also at meals or while watching TV. Try to sit with both feet on the floor.