James suffers from sciatica and crosses his legs? DeepSeek: Danger ❗️ May aggravate injuries

In the NBA preseason, the Lakers faced the Warriors at home. James sat on a higher chair, but crossed his legs.

According to DeepSeek analysis, crossing one's legs is a bad habit that is not recommended for patients with sciatica. It is likely to aggravate or induce your symptoms.

Why does crossing your legs aggravate sciatica?

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body. It originates from the waist, passes through the buttocks, and extends to the legs and feet. The action of crossing your legs will have adverse effects on the sciatic nerve in many ways:

👉 Direct compression of the sciatic nerve:

When you cross your legs, the knee of the upper leg will press against the lower leg. This pressure point is very close to the buttocks. The sciatic nerve passes just deep in the buttocks (specifically underneath or between the piriformis muscle).

This posture will directly increase the physical compression on the sciatic nerve, causing nerve ischemia and hypoxia, thereby causing or exacerbating radiating pain, numbness, or tingling from the buttocks to the legs.

👉Exacerbating pelvic imbalance and scoliosis:

Cross-legged legs will cause your pelvis to tilt and rotate. In order to maintain body balance, your lumbar spine will unconsciously bend to one side. If this continues, it will lead to pelvic imbalance and lumbar facet joint disorder.

This structural change will increase the pressure on the lumbar intervertebral disc. If you already have an intervertebral disc herniation (the most common cause of sciatica), this action will be like adding insult to injury.

👉 Causes piriformis muscle tension:

The sciatic nerve is closely related to the piriformis muscle, a muscle in the buttocks. Many people suffer from sciatic nerve entrapment caused by "piriformis syndrome".

Crossing your legs will overstretch and tense the piriformis muscle. The tight piriformis muscle will clamp the sciatic nerve that passes underneath it like a pliers, causing symptoms.

👉 Affects blood circulation:

This posture not only compresses nerves, but also compresses blood vessels in the legs, affecting the blood return of the entire lower limbs. Although this does not directly cause sciatica, it can increase swelling and discomfort in the leg, making it even more uncomfortable when combined with nerve pain symptoms.

✍️Summary

Crossing your legs is a clear "danger signal" for patients with sciatica. It directly induces or worsens your pain by compressing nerves, twisting the pelvis, and tensing muscles. Changing this habit, along with correct sitting posture and appropriate stretching, is a critical first step toward recovery.