Finding a comfortable and sustainable seating position isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Even if we think we are comfortable, we can often find ourselves fidgeting and moving our legs around, trying to get in the right position.
Ideally, you want to be able to sit in a chair without moving your legs. This will help you maintain good posture.
Let’s go over why you might be moving around a lot while sitting, why you should aim to sit still, and a few techniques to sit comfortably and still.
Table of Contents
What Does it Mean if You Move Your Legs While Sitting?
If you find yourself moving your legs a lot while sitting, it probably means you are uncomfortable, stressed, or distracted. Think of how you feel when laying in bed at night; you only move around when you aren’t comfortable, fidgeting while sitting is similar.
You may also not have your chair at the correct height. This would make it difficult for you to plant your feet into the ground. A chair that’s too tall will make your legs dangle in the air, while a low chair will put your knees up and cause discomfort.
Alternatively, this movement could be associated with stress. Your mental state translates to your physical state, so taking a moment to consider how you feel may help keep your legs still and calm during your working hours.
Why Shouldn’t You Move Your Legs While Sitting?
You shouldn’t move your legs while sitting because it will take you out of the correct ergonomic sitting position you should maintain while at your desk. When seated, it’s important to keep your spine aligned, your feet grounded, and your head facing forward.
The more you fidget, the more you risk coming out of this position. Moving your legs around will disrupt your spine, move your hips, and might even make your crane your neck as you try to focus on the work in front of you.
Shaking your legs may also be a way to release built up energy while sitting down for most of the day. Sometimes, this movement may be your body’s subconscious way of getting rid of tension and anxiety.
Can Fidgeting Be a Good Thing?
We know that moving into awkward positions can cause ergonomic discomfort, but generally, movement isn’t always a bad thing.
If you can find ways to move that don’t mess up the alignment of your spine or hips, incorporating a little movement into your sitting routine might be helpful.
Exercise in any form is beneficial. One 2016 study reported that fidgeting (tapping their feet or jiggling) increased participant’s blood flow in the legs.
Sitting is not very good for the body, especially when sitting in a simple or unsupportive chair. Staying seated can put unnecessary pressure on your hips and spine without the right lumbar support, cushioning, and positioning.
How to Sit on a Chair Without Moving Your Legs?
The best way to sit without moving your legs is to find a comfortable position you can maintain and to alot yourself a few minutes every hour to get up and move around.
Let’s go over the best way to sit still at a desk.
To start, the desk needs to be the same height as your elbows when you bend your arms at a 90-degree angle. This will ensure your arms can rest comfortably and are parallel to the desk.
Your feet and legs should not be crossed. Twisting your limbs puts pressure on your hips and can be detrimental. Instead, try to keep your feet flat and grounded.
But just having your feet touch the ground isn’t enough. Your knees should be the same height as your hips. Having an adjustable chair makes getting into this position easier.
You can also use a footrest or a small box under your feet if that helps.
The back should not be hunched over. Keep your spine straight and tall. It should be aligned with your hips.
An uncomfortable back can make your entire sitting experience unpleasant. If your chair does not have apt lumbar support, put a small pillow in the small of your back to ensure your whole spine is pressed against a surface.
Medical News Today suggests that everyone take a 10-minute break for every hour of sitting. We love standing desks because they keep us productive while getting us out of our chairs. Some people find setting a timer helpful for this.
You should avoid dangling or handing your legs off the edge of the seat. Some ergonomic chairs have sloped seat edges to ensure the legs and back of the knees aren’t subjected to the weight of your body.
No body part should be crossed. This is incredibly important, so always check in with yourself and see if you need to readjust yourself.
Lastly, do not slump. It’s easy to get in an awkward position when constantly moving your legs. While slumping may feel more comfortable initially, it is not a sustainable position and will eventually start to make you feel unbalanced and sore.
Recommended Products
HUANUO Adjustable Footrest
If you need to support your feet to keep your legs still, this adjustable footrest will help get the job done. It’s titled for your comfort and has three height positions.
FEZIBO Electric Adjustable Standing Desk
This standing desk is affordable, simple, and gets you out of your chair. Just make sure to gradually introduce standing into your work routine to avoid injuries or strain.
In Conclusion
The key to sitting without moving your legs is honoring the ergonomic sitting position. However, it’s not always a bad thing to move a little, as long as it doesn’t disrupt the alignment of your spine, hips, or neck.
We highly recommend looking into getting a standing desk to ensure you don’t spend all your days seated and restless.
Are you a fidgeter? Have you found that it compromises your posture? We’d love to hear your experiences and thoughts!
Good luck!
My name is Vance, and I am the owner of To Ergonomics. Our mission is to improve your workflow by helping you create a supportive and welcoming environment. We hope that you’ll find what you’re looking for while you’re here.