It’s well-established that spending an excessive amount of time sitting (ahem, working at a desk) might have an effect on our our bodies. Sitting all day can decrease muscle strength and is linked to dangerous well being outcomes like heart disease.
However is all sitting created equal?
Some folks say sitting on the bottom is definitely good on your well being, and ought to be completed frequently ― an idea that nearly appears too good to be true.
Beneath, consultants shared with HuffPost the professionals and cons of sitting on the ground — and why nobody posture is good.
Sitting cross-legged on the bottom might be good for mobility and adaptability.
Most adults seemingly don’t typically discover themselves ceaselessly sitting on the ground within the cross-legged place. However youngsters who frequently sit and play on the ground could also be onto one thing.
“I actually assume from a well being advantages or a musculoskeletal situation standpoint, that [cross-legged sitting] posture actually does assist us with … hip, low again and knee vary of movement,” mentioned Dr. Christopher Bise, an assistant professor within the division of bodily remedy on the College of Pittsburgh. It additionally helps maintain our decrease physique versatile, he mentioned.
Dr. Jennifer O’Connell, a physiatrist on the Hospital for Particular Surgical procedure in New York, added that “one of many issues with sitting in a chair is that it’s a place the place your hamstrings are typically tight — sitting in a cross legged place might assist that considerably.”
However when you aren’t in a position to get your self right down to the ground, you possibly can nonetheless work in your mobility and adaptability.
“Do not forget that these positions don’t essentially must be on the ground. You may, on a sofa, get in to the cross-legged sitting place, or you should use completely different sitting positions on the sofa that can even improve your vary of movement, as nicely,” Bise defined.
Having an excellent vary of movement is vital as you age.
Sustaining your vary of movement is vital for a lot of causes — you’ll be higher in a position to get round your home, do your errands, and play with youngsters and grandchildren as your years improve.
“However I feel one of many issues that occurs once we become old is … we grow to be much less versatile as a result of we start to decelerate ― however we don’t must be much less versatile,” Bise mentioned.
“And when you consider the therapies you’re going to obtain from a bodily therapist … one of many first issues they’re going to do is assess each your joint mobility and your muscle flexibility for the muscle groups round your joints and see how they’re transferring,” Bise continued. “And when we’ve bones and joints and muscle groups which are rigid, which are stiffer, we’re not going to maneuver as nicely or as effectively as we might.”
Going from sitting on the bottom, to the chair, to strolling and exercising is a good way to maintain your self cellular and versatile.
Plus, the power to really get into and out of a seated-on-the-floor posture can be vital, Bise mentioned. Older adults are susceptible to falls, he mentioned, but when they’ve the power to rise and decrease to and from the ground, they’ll be extra in a position to forestall falls sooner or later or get themselves up if want be.
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Sitting on the bottom can work your core, too.
Sitting on the bottom engages your core muscle groups in a approach that simply doesn’t occur while you’re sitting on a chair, in keeping with O’Connell.
With out again assist from a chair, your core muscle groups mechanically activate, she mentioned.
“After which simply the mere act of getting up from that place is useful on your entire physique. You’re exercising your hips, your knees, your total decrease chain and your core with a view to stand up,” O’Connell defined.
However this doesn’t imply it is best to sit on the bottom all the time.
You may attempt sitting on the bottom for half-hour or so, however you shouldn’t plop down on the ground for the whole day.
“There’s a purpose that your Apple Watch reminds you each 60 minutes to stand up and begin transferring once more … a few of it’s postural, a few of it’s simply easy movement and getting energy going, however a few of it’s also altering postures as nicely,” Bise famous.
O’Connell mentioned that she routinely tells her sufferers who work desk jobs to stand up and transfer round — whether or not that’s strolling to get a glass of water or simply transferring round the home.
“Earlier than you already know it, an hour to 2 hours have passed by, you didn’t stand up and transfer. And though you didn’t actually discover that since you have been targeted on duties, your again did discover that,” O’Connell defined.
Sitting on the bottom just isn’t best for everybody.
“One purpose the place flooring seating could also be detrimental is you probably have joint points,” O’Connell mentioned. “As a matter of reference, I’ve a difficulty the place my hips don’t open up very nicely, so sitting in a conventional cross-legged place on the ground for me could be very difficult.”
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Moreover, folks recovering from sure surgical procedures or accidents might also have bother sitting on the bottom.
“Identical to with something … test along with your physician earlier than you begin any sort of train routine,” O’Connell mentioned. “However you possibly can seek the advice of with a bodily therapist, they usually can provide you methods for getting up and down off the ground.”
Whereas it’s good to place your physique in numerous postures and positions, you shouldn’t achieve this if it’s not protected for you.
