Adam Rufa - 4/17/2006

Question
I have a desk job, so I sit all day. I cross my legs constantly. Either the left one is over the right one, or the right one is over the left one. Is this bad for the knees? Can this "wear out" the knees over time?  

Answer
There is no evidence that crossing your legs will injure your knees. Compared to activities like walking up stairs and running, there is little force on the knees when sitting with your legs crossed. I would imagine that sitting with your legs crossed would be harder on your hips than your knees. However, lack of use can cause accelerated cartilage damage.    

The newest evidence suggests that lack of use may be one of the biggest factors in knee degeneration. Cartilage tends to break down if it is not stressed. The areas of the knee that usually break down first are the parts that are stressed during a full squat. This may be due to the fact that most of uses do not squat very often.

A recent study showed that people who run regularly had less joint problems than non-runners. Too much running, without proper rest in between bout can damage cartilage but if done properly it seems to protect the joint.

Bottom line, the best way to avoid knee problems is to use you legs, stay thin and keep the muscles strong. Unfortunately, no matter what you do, some people still get problems.