Crossing your legs is a behavior that many people do without realizing it. But the health implications of this habit are greater than you might think. Crossing your legs causes your pelvis to curve, putting your weight on one side, which leads to an imbalance in your pelvis. An imbalance in the pelvis can disrupt the proper curve of the spine and contribute to back pain. It can also put pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing pain or paresthesias. In addition, twisting of the pelvis and spine can compress the central nervous system, causing problems with muscles, joints, and internal organs. For example, it can affect the position of your reproductive organs or internal organs, causing you to experience menstrual irregularities or poor bowel function.
Symptoms of Pelvic Imbalance and How to Identify Them
You can easily check your pelvis for imbalances in your daily routine. For example, if your pants have a different inseam length or your skirt keeps turning to one side, you might suspect a pelvic tilt. You can also check by standing with your back to a wall and putting your hand between your waist and the wall. Under normal conditions, you should be able to fit one hand in, but if you can fit more than one hand in, your pelvis is forward, and if you can’t even fit a hand in, your pelvis is tilted back.
Strive for good posture
If you feel like your pelvis is out of alignment, you may want to break the habit of crossing your legs. When you sit in a chair, you shouldn’t cross your legs, but rather push your butt fully into the backrest. Your knees should be slightly more than 90 degrees apart, and your lower back should be leaning against the backrest so that your shoulders and pelvis are in a straight line. It’s important to keep your heels grounded. It’s also a good idea to use a foot rest to alternately raise both feet. This conscious effort will help you maintain a healthy posture.
This information is important for a healthy lifestyle, and it’s a growing concern for a better everyday life. Crossing your legs is usually done unconsciously, but by being aware of it and taking appropriate action, you can prevent many health problems associated with pelvic imbalance. For more information on this, see here.
