What is the correct leg position while sitting?

Author: Prof. Gerson Fay Sr.  |  Last update: Saturday, April 5, 2025

The optimal sitting position is achieved by keeping the spine in what is known as a neutral position, whilst positioning the legs so your feet are flat on the floor, with feet and knees roughly hip width apart, and maintaining correct arm posture.

What is the most unhealthy sitting position?

Sitting positions to avoid

sitting slumped to one side with the spine bent. keeping the knees, ankles, or arms crossed. dangling or not properly supporting the feet.

What is the best angle for your legs when seated?

When working in chair positions during thigh work, look for 90-degree angles in your major joints. Your knees should stack above your ankles, and your shoulders should stack above your hips. This alignment helps protect your neck, knees and lower back, while allowing the thigh muscles to work hard to support your body.

What is the anatomically correct way to sit?

Keep feet flat on the floor or on a footrest.
  1. Keep the upper body straight (not twisted) and in an upright position.
  2. Keep the lumbar support of the back rest in your lumbar region (curve in the lower back)
  3. Keep the back straight (avoiding twisting)

Should your knees be lower than your hips when sitting?

Your hips should be slightly higher than your knees. Height: Adjust the height of your chair if necessary so your feet are flat on the floor. If you can't lower your seat, use a footrest. Your hips should be slightly higher than your knees.

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What is the correct posture for sitting?

Posture Checklist
  1. Set the arch of the foot so your weight is evenly distributed.
  2. Align the second and third toe with the knees.
  3. Hips should be neutral with your rib cage tucked down.
  4. Natural spine – avoid hunching, extension and reaching.
  5. The shoulders should be drawn down and back.
  6. Center your head on the shoulders.

What is the 90 90 90 rule for sitting?

Anytime you're at your desk, you should be seated in the "90-90-90 Position." This means that your elbows should be bent at a 90-degree angle, your hips should be at a 90-degree angle, and your knees should be at a 90-degree angle, with your feet flat on the floor beneath your chair.

Which part of the legs bend when you sit?

The knee is the joint where the bones of the lower and upper legs meet. The largest joint in the body, the knee moves like a hinge, allowing you to sit, squat, walk or jump.

What is the right angle of the leg?

Legs of a Right Triangle. The legs of a right triangle are the two sides that intersect to determine the right angle. The remaining side is called the hypotenuse. Sometimes it is required to solve a right triangle to find the length of one or both of the legs of the right triangle.

What sitting positions should I avoid?

What to avoid doing while sitting?
  • Tilting the head forward to prevent neck injury.
  • Sitting without lumbar support to prevent back pain.
  • Working with arms raised to prevent neck and shoulder pain.
  • Bending wrists to prevent wrist pain and muscle cramps.
  • Working with unsupported forearms to prevent shoulder and back pain.

What happens to your legs when you sit too long?

Sitting for long periods can lead to varicose veins or spider veins (a smaller version of varicose veins). This is because sitting causes blood to pool in your legs. Varicose veins aren't usually dangerous. In rare cases, they can lead to blood clots, which can cause serious problems (see deep vein thrombosis, below).

Why do Japanese sit on their knees?

'proper sitting') is the formal, traditional way of sitting in Japan. It involves a specific positioning and posture in a kneeled position so as to convey respect, particularly toward elders. It developed among samurai during the Edo period and was later widely adopted by the public.

How do I correct my leg position?

Adjust your feet until you feel a place where the legs feel balanced, and you have a sense that your weight is falling directly down through your legs into the floor. Refine this position by shifting your weight slightly forward and back and side to side. Don't lock your knees, but let them be a little bit soft.

How to avoid getting stiff when sitting?

Poor Posture

Slouching can put a lot of added stress to your muscles which could lead to stiffness. Poor posture can also cause your muscles to become fatigued, which can make the stiffness worse. This means sitting up straight, keeping your shoulders back, and keeping your feet flat on the ground.

Should knees be above hips when sitting?

When you're sitting at a desk, aim to keep your knees roughly level with your hips. This will let you keep what Truumees calls “a more neutral back alignment” so that your back muscles won't have to work as hard.

What is it called when your legs bend out?

Bow legs (or genu varum) is when the legs curve outward at the knees while the feet and ankles touch. Infants and toddlers often have bow legs. Sometimes, older kids do too. It's rarely serious and usually goes away without treatment, often by the time a child is 3–4 years old.

What angle should the knees be bent while sitting down?

Knees. Your knees should be bent at an approximate 90 degree angle with thighs parallel to the floor and feet comfortably on the floor. Your neck should be positioned to allow the head to be centered over the shoulders.

What is the best angle to sit at?

The angle that has been shown to be optimal is 20-30 degrees forward and down. This puts the thighs at an angle between 120-135 degrees. It should look like this: For those that don't, chair wedges are available to help set to the correct angle.

What is the 20 20 20 rule for sitting?

Simply close your eyes and relax every 20 minutes for about 20 to 30 seconds. Get up every 20 minutes and walk around the room, looking away from the computer screen. This will help to get you moving, as sitting for extended periods of time is also detrimental to your health.

What is the maximum recommended sitting time?

According to the charity Just Stand, the following thresholds determine a person's risk of developing health problems due to sitting:
  • Low risk: Sitting for less than 4 hours per day.
  • Medium risk: Sitting for 4–8 hours per day.
  • High risk: Sitting for 8–11 hours per day.

Which sitting position is healthiest?

Knees and forearms should be parallel to the floor. Elbows should be at your sides. Sit up straight and do not slump to one side. Look forward to prevent neck pain or strain.

What is the best sitting position for sciatica?

To minimize stress to the sciatic nerve while sitting, it is recommended to sit straight with the shoulders rolled back and shoulder blades down. The legs must be hip-distance apart with feet flat on the floor.

What is the correct walking posture?

Be aware of your posture: Stand as tall as possible, feet pointing forward, abs engaged, back straight, neck in line with your shoulders (not forward), head up, and eyes gazing about 10 feet ahead of you. When walking, your center of gravity to move forward, not side-to-side (known as hip sway).

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