This One Trick for Better Posture May Ease Back Pain in Women
Learn how crossing your legs affects your posture, and how to sit instead to help prevent joint and back pain.
What daily habit might be causing your back, hip, knee, and shoulder pain? Your posture can play a big role in your pain, and it goes beyond slouching. It might be that thing you do without even thinking each time you sit down: crossing your legs.
A 2014 study in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science looked at changes in posture when participants sat cross-legged for extended periods of time. After sitting cross-legged for three hours (a totally normal occurrence in today’s office culture), researchers noticed the participants had more slouched shoulders, a rotated pelvis, and a forward head posture. The solution? Turns out, it’s all about the knee placement. To further reduce posture-related pain, don’t ignore your desk setup. Here’s how to set up your workspace for better posture.
References
Park, Y., et al. (2014). Comparison of postures according to sitting time with the leg crossed. Journal of Physical Therapy Science.