Are you interested in the best way to sit for blood circulation? Well, you're in luck! This article will attempt to concisely answer the important questions.
Blood circulation is essential for your health. It allows for the blood to carry nutrients throughout the body and dispose of waste materials.
Your heart has to work incredibly hard to pump blood around the body and it can be put under even more pressure if you lead a sedentary lifestyle.
Unfortunately, we live in a world where sitting is becoming an increasingly common part of our lives, especially at work.
Many of us can’t avoid sitting, which is why it is important to know what you can do while sitting to improve your circulation.
In this article, we will answer the following questions:
- What is the best way to sit for blood circulation?
- Can a chair cut off circulation?
- How can I improve circulation in my legs while sitting?
So let's get started!
What is the best way to sit for blood circulation?
The way you sit can affect your circulation. Many common sitting positions, like crossing your legs, can cut off the circulation in your legs.
There are some ways of sitting that can help combat the negative effects that sitting has on your circulation.
Sitting with your feet placed on the ground and spaced slightly apart is best for your circulation as it does not cut off any major blood vessels.
Sitting with the correct posture is also essential for good circulation. Hunching forward and sitting with poor posture puts more pressure on your spine thereby shortening it. This impedes circulation.
Try to make use of the backrest of the chair to support your posture and minimize the space between your lower back and the chair.
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Keeping your feet slightly elevated can also help with circulation. A footstool that is 6 to 12 in height is recommended to assist with circulation.
There are also exercise tools like under-desk cycles and sitting on an exercise ball which will aid circulation through movement and strengthening key muscle groups.
Can a chair cut off circulation?
Although the chair itself doesn’t cut off your circulation, it can affect your posture and the way that you sit which can impede circulation.
You want a chair that allows you to sit with the best posture for prolonged periods. It should be comfortable, adjustable and the correct size for you.
Ideally, you want to find a chair that has a seat pan that allows for a 2-3 inch gap between the back of your knees and the front of your seat.
The seat itself should be sufficiently cushioned with good back support to help you maintain good posture. Having a chair with good lumbar support is vital to ensure good posture and comfort.
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You should try to make use of your armrests by placing your elbows on the armrests while keeping your forearms parallel to your desk. This will keep your shoulders in the correct position and prevent hunching.
Your seat and backrest should be an adequate width to distribute your weight evenly. Good chairs are dynamic and ergonomically designed to assist with posture and comfort. Many will allow you to lean back, relax and stretch.
It helps to keep your feet elevated slightly using a footrest. Some chairs come with a built-in leg extension setting that is in place to help improve blood circulation.
Getting a desk and chair of the correct height for you is essential for maintaining the correct posture in order to maximize blood flow and improve posture.
How can I improve circulation in my legs while sitting?
We have briefly discussed the importance of posture in maintaining good blood circulation.
Good posture takes the pressure off of your spine and allows blood to flow freely throughout your body.
There are many exercises that you can do at your desk to improve your circulation. The muscles surrounding your veins contract and relax playing a vital role in blood circulation so it is important to keep your leg muscles active.
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Here is a video outlining some of the exercises that you can do while seated to improve circulation:
Doing exercise outside of work can strengthen the muscles which are needed to maintain good posture. Exercises that strengthen your core and back muscles will improve your posture and make sitting upright easier to do.
Cardiovascular exercises decrease blood pressure which gives you better circulation.
It is also important to take regular breaks from your desk to get the blood flowing. This study conducted by the American Journal of Physiology suggests that you take a 3-minute break from your desk every 30-minutes.
This will provide you with multiple health benefits including improved blood circulation.
The healthier you are, the lower your blood pressure, and the better your blood circulation. Even things like a good diet, decreasing stress, and staying hydrated can all help to improve circulation.
Not only will good circulation help you avoid lots of negative health effects of sitting, but you will also make you feel better more energetic, and more productive!
