If you look closely at the people around you, how many of them will unconsciously stilt their legs as soon as they sit down?
This relaxed and comfortable action, after becoming a long-term habit, may bring unexpected harm to the body, and even "stilt" out of a body.
Why is this position more comfortable? Can Jiro still have stilted legs? "Life Times" interviewed experts to answer them one by one.
Experts interviewed
Lin Hong, Chief Physician of the Department of Orthopedics, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University
Ma Jianwen, a registered psychological counselor of the Chinese Mental Health Association and chairman of the Guangdong Aijia Psychological Research Institute
The author of this article丨Life Times reporter Yu Ye
This article is edited by Gao Yang
Why people like stilted legs
Obviously it's not good for the body, why is this action so fascinating?
No.1
Very comfortable indeed
From a physiological point of view, when people sit down, the spine and ischial bones mainly support the body's center of gravity and balance. Each person's sitting height (the height when sitting), the supporting area of the soles of the feet and buttocks are different, and the different heights of the chair will bring uneven force on the lower limbs, and the body is easy to lose the center of gravity after sitting for a long time.
Lifting Erlang's legs can adjust the center of gravity, increase the support of the lower limbs, relieve the tension of the plantar muscles, relax the leg muscles for a short time, and reduce the fatigue caused by sitting for a long time.
No.2
Socially significant
The stilt leg is more than just a pose, it is endowed with some social meaning, through which a sense of relaxation and control is conveyed.
For example, a man in a smart suit and leather shoes sits on a sofa and stomps his legs, giving the impression of confidence and majesty. Women put their legs close together and lean to the side of the body, and the leg line is stretched, and the curve is obvious, which is more sexy and elegant.
No.3
It's a body language
The stilt leg is also a body language that helps people release tension and stress so that they feel relaxed and at ease. The stilted legs sometimes represent a defensive stance, and when people are threatened by a potential threat, they will unconsciously wrap their bodies as much as possible to protect their intimate space.
The hazard starts in the spine
Physiologically speaking, the harm of stilted legs starts from the spine and affects the health of the lower limbs, which can be described as "from head to toe".
Raised blood pressure
When the legs are stilted, it will affect the venous blood return of the lower limbs, and the heart will contract and relax more forcefully, causing blood pressure to rise. Although it is only temporary, people with high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease try not to stilt, obstructing blood flow can sometimes be dangerous for them.
Scoliosis
If the left and right sides of the body are unevenly stressed, compensatory scoliosis will occur in the spine, which can easily cause problems such as spinal deformation, scoliosis, and uneven pressure distribution between the lumbar spine and thoracic spine. It may also lead to diseases such as lumbar disc herniation and lumbar spinal stenosis.
Crooked pelvis
When the legs are stilted, the pelvis rolls back, the hip joint is tense, the center of gravity of the body shifts, and the pelvis tilts over time, and even the originally round buttocks become flattened.
Affects reproduction
Male stilted legs will increase the temperature around the genitals and damage sperm. Female stilted legs create a warm and moist environment in the perineum, causing vulvitis or vaginitis. Poor circulation of qi and blood in the pelvis can also lead to adnexitis and pelvic inflammatory disease.
osteoarthritis
This position increases the pressure inside the knee joint, making nutrient absorption and wear and tear of the cartilage worse. For people whose cartilage has already degenerated to varying degrees, it increases the risk of osteoarthritis.
Muscle strain
Prolonged compression of the pressed leg may cause poor blood circulation and damage to the leg muscles. At the same time, the muscles of the other leg will also fatigue due to prolonged tension.
varicosity
The legs will also hinder the blood circulation in the legs, and over time, cause varicose veins, which can lead to poor blood return in the legs, bruised tendons, ulcers, phlebitis, bleeding and other problems.
O-shaped legs
The uneven stress and inward deviation of the upper leg can increase the pressure in the medial knee joint space and increase cartilage wear. The "fibular collateral ligament" located on the outside of the knee joint is continuously stretched and becomes relaxed, forming a subluxation of the knee joint on the basis of the existing osteoarthritis, and it looks like an O-shaped leg.
6 ways to correct Erlang's legs
In fact, Erlang's legs are not completely stilted, and he should pay attention to the frequency and control the time. People who have formed a habit can slowly correct it from 6 aspects to reduce the damage.
01 Less than 5 minutes on one side
The time of unilateral stilt should not exceed 10 minutes, and try to control it within 5 minutes. Try to avoid sedentary lifestyle, get up and walk around every half hour or 1 hour or step in place to promote blood circulation in the lower limbs.
02Choose the right chair
A chair that is too high or too low will affect the sitting posture and blood circulation in the legs. A seat of the right height should be seated with your legs flat on the floor and the calf and thigh angle of about 90 degrees.
03Adjust the seated backrest
When you sit, sit with your feet slightly apart, shoulder-width apart, and your body upright, with your back on the back of the seat at a 45-degree angle to the horizontal, this position relaxes the muscles in your back and reduces pressure on your spine.
When sitting, place your feet flat on the ground, and place a small stool under your feet so that your thighs are parallel to the ground or your knees are slightly higher than your hips, which will increase the contact area between your hips and the seat for a more comfortable sitting position.
04Strengthen exercise
Core exercises such as yoga, Pilates, and abdominal exercises can improve balance and stability. Plank training can be done at home to improve the strength of the lower back and legs.
You can also use "seated stretching hamstrings and calf back groups" to correct the imbalance of the muscles behind the legs:
Sit up straight, with your right leg straight, pinched up, your right hand under your right knee, and your left leg bent naturally. Tighten your abdomen and slowly move your upper body forward, stretching the posterior femoris muscles until you feel a slight tingling sensation in the back of your thighs. Hold for 15 seconds, switch legs and repeat. Complete the left and right legs once in a group, repeat for 10 sets.
05Timely rehabilitation and correction
If the stilted leg causes serious health problems, such as scoliosis, joint injury, etc., you should seek help from a professional doctor or therapist in time.
06Seek psychological support
Stilted legs can sometimes be associated with psychological factors such as anxiety and nervousness. In this case, you can seek the help of a psychologist to relieve the problem mood through psychological counseling or therapy. ▲
Editor of this issue: Wang Xiaoqing
Copyright Notice: This article is the original of "Life Times" and is not reproduced without authorization.