Can prolonged sitting cross-legged damage our veins?

A common position adopted my many is sitting with one leg over the other. This can cause pressure in the space behind the knee, which is known as the popliteal fossa. The fossa is occupied by various nerves and vessels, and when you sit cross-legged for a long time, it can put pressure on the nerves, the arteries and the veins.

Dr Mudit Khanna a renowned orthopaedic surgeon at Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai Central explains that for normal individuals, this is not a big deal. But some individuals are at risk of developing a clot in the veins, a condition known as deep vein thrombosis. The main reason for this condition is that when one sits cross-legged it will cause a slight sluggish blood flow back to the heart which could predispose to the formation of a clot and patient can develop deep vein thrombosis.

Another very common sensation is the felling of pins and needles on prolonged sitting in this position. This is because the nerves in the fossa which are responsible for nerve supply to the legs get pressed causing tingling numbness sensation in the foot. So, people who sit cross-legged for a long time can develop those feeling. The cause of this is not injury as most people think but pressure on the nerves.

Sitting cross-legged does not affect the integrity of the knee. However, for people who sit cross-legged for 10 to 12 hours a day, are at a risk for Varicose veins. Sitting for a short period will not cause it. Varicose Veins occurs when blood gets backed up, and collects in that area, causing bulging.

Other harmful effects of prolonged sitting suggested by Dr. Mudit Khanna is leg muscles weakness leaving your body open to more injury. Apart from this a sedentary lifestyle can lead to a reduced secretion of the enzymes that process protein and fat, increasing weight gain and cholesterol levels. Studies show that sitting for 10 to 12 hours at the stretch have a higher risk of diabetes, cancer and heart disease.

If you do have to sit all day, doctors’ suggest walking around every hour to improve movement. Also sitting with shoulders back and down, feet flat on the floor and knees lower than hips, can help posture considerably.

For further information and treatment of vein disorders please consult our vascular surgery department at Wockhardt Hospital.