Why is sitting with your legs crossed bad?

When sitting, some of us cross our legs at the knee, while others do so at the ankle. According to a study published in Neuropsychologia in 1994, 62% of people cross their right leg over the left, 26% do the opposite, and 12% have no preference. Sitting with your legs crossed can be comfortable as it helps relieve weight on the buttocks and reduces excessive arching of the back. Doing it occasionally won’t lead to a medical emergency, but it can actually be a relatively harmful habit. Which areas are affected? What's the impact on blood circulation? Should I stop crossing my legs altogether then? To listen to the last episodes, you can click here : How do I know when to end a friendship? What is social jet lag? Are cold showers good for you? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. In partnership with upday UK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices