In some culture , sitting on the ground is uncouth , but that tend not to be the face in the U.S. — should it be ?
It ’s well - established that drop too much meter sitting ( ahem , act upon at a desk ) could have an impact on our body . Sitting all daycandecrease muscle strengthand is linked to bad wellness outcomes likeheart disease .
But is all sitting created adequate ?
Some folkssay sit on the dry land is actually sound for your health , and should be done regularly ― a concept that almost seems too good to be true .
Below , experts shared with HuffPost the pros and inmate of model on the floor — and why no one military strength is ideal .
Sitting cross-legged on the ground can be good for mobility and flexibility.
Most adults likely do n’t often find themselves oft sitting on the flooring in the crabby - legged position . But kids who on a regular basis model and play on the floor may be onto something .
“ I really think from a health benefits or a musculoskeletal condition standpoint , that [ cross - legged seance ] strength really does aid us with … coxa , low back and genu range of move , ” saidDr . Christopher Bise , an assistant professor in the department of physical therapy at the University of Pittsburgh . It also help keep our lower physical structure flexible , he sound out .
Dr. Jennifer O’Connell , a physiatrist at the Hospital for Special Surgery inNew York , add together that “ one of the trouble with sitting in a chair is that it ’s a location where your hamstrings tend to be tight — sitting in a crisscross legged position may aid that reasonably . ”
But if you are n’t able to get yourself down to the floor , you may still work on your mobility and tractability .
“ Remember that these positions do n’t necessarily have to be on the floor . you’re able to , on a lounge , get in to the crabbed - legged sitting status , or you’re able to use dissimilar sitting positions on the sofa that will also increase your kitchen stove of motion , as well , ” Bise explain .
Having a good range of motion is important as you age.
asseverate your range of gesture is significant for many understanding — you ’ll be well able to get around your house , do your errands , and play with children and grandchildren as your year step-up .
“ But I think one of the things that occur when we get older is … we become less flexible because we set about to slow down down ― but we do n’t have to be less conciliatory , ” Bise said .
“ And when you cogitate about the treatments you ’re going to welcome from a forcible therapist … one of the first thing they ’re going to do is appraise both your joint mobility and your muscle flexibility for the muscles around your stick and see how they ’re move , ” Bise keep on . “ And when we have os and articulation and muscles that are unbending , that are stiffer , we ’re not going to move as well or as efficiently as we could . ”
Going from pose on the earth , to the president , to walking and work out is a great way to keep yourself mobile and flexible .
Plus , the ability to actually get into and out of a seated - on - the - floor posture is also important , Bise said . Older adultsare prone to downslope , he said , but if they have the ability to rise and abject to and from the floor , they ’ll be more able to forestall falls in the future or get themselves up if need be .
Sitting on the ground can work your core, too.
Sitting on the ground engages your core brawn in a way that just does n’t happen when you ’re ride on a chairwoman , harmonize to O’Connell .
Without back supporting from a chair , your burden muscles automatically turn on , she say .
“ And then just the simple act of getting up from that position is good for your whole body . You ’re exercising your hips , your knees , your entire lower Ernst Boris Chain and your gist for get up , ” O’Connell excuse .
But this doesn’t mean you should sit on the groundallthe time.
you’re able to try on posture on the primer for 30 transactions or so , but you should not plop down on the floor for the entire day .
“ There ’s a rationality that your Apple Watch cue you every 60 minutes to get up and start moving again … some of it is postural , some of it is just simple movement and catch calories going , but some of it is also exchange military capability as well , ” Bise mention .
O’Connell said that she routinely tells her patient who work desk jobs to get up and move around — whether that ’s walking to get a glass of body of water or just moving around the house .
“ Before you know it , an hour to two hours have gone by , you did n’t get up and move . And although you did n’t really notice that because you were focus on chore , your back did observe that , ” O’Connell explained .
Sitting on the ground is not ideal for everyone.
“ One reason where story seating room may be detrimental is if you have joint issues , ” O’Connell articulate . “ As a matter of reference , I have an issue where my hips do n’t unfold up very well , so sitting in a traditional cross - legged position on the storey for me is very challenging . ”
to boot , citizenry recover from certain surgeries or injuries may also have trouble sitting on the ground .
“ Just wish with anything … go over with your doctor before you start any eccentric of exercise regimen , ” O’Connell said . “ But you’re able to confer with with a physical therapist , and they can give you strategy for getting up and down off the floor . ”
While it ’s good to put your body in dissimilar postures and position , you should n’t do so if it ’s not safe for you . This article earlier appeared onHuffPost .
