Things we do differently because of our bendiness

[alienorchid]

I sit cross legged on office chairs if I can get away with it. In fact, I like to sit cross legged whenever I can!

...Sitting cross legged on my computer chair as I type this...

Also at the movies, on sofas, on the ground... cross legged is definitely the most comfortable for me!

[cavemonster]

even the second wrist/hand/elbow/arm position in those pics dont seem 'normal' to me

I think that was the closest they could get me to normal!! My wrists are always bent at some angle or another!!

also your elbow seems to be unnecessarily "up in the air", therefore involving the shoulder too much in the action

Again, a bad habit on my part...I tried to mime the way you describe and my shoulders clunked...back into place...perhaps I need to think about keeping them where they should be a bit more often...and about keeping my wrists straight for that matter - trying now and it makes typing strange...they're always flopping about!

[KatieKateBlythe]

Hi Cave,

I find resting my arms on the desk or cusion (pretty much anything) really helps with whatever i am doing.

It all goes back to position of your whole body really if I think about it as i do most things at elbow height so i can keep my back upright and arms down and bent at the elbows then resting onto something. (thankfully my elbows are one of my 'good' joints!)

[gila]

doing things 'normally'... just is anything but normal for us
takes a lot of thought and practice and best some input from a med bod (physio/OT- they can explain/show you for example the difference between straight and neutral wrist and when either is appropriate etc etc) -

but I found it's worth the effort- less pain and better function
xxg

[niccysearle]

I freak out my husband whilst driving due to the way I hold the gear stick.......I seem to bend my elbow the wrong way......just feels more comfy that way!!!

[KatieKateBlythe]

similar idea to the last post if i dont keep correcting myself I end up driving with the side of my right foot, this is obviously something I have been doing for a long time as i didnt notice till recently that i did it and found to begin with it felt strange having my foot in the 'correct' position on the peddal

[Tori]

Yay for sitting cross legged! My profs at school don't even bat an eye any more they just expect me to sit like that, or bring pillows and sit on the floor (I ask permission first)

[niccysearle]

When I am painting my toe nails not only can I twist my legs/feet right round but I don't need toe separators....I just cross my toes over each other and they stay there!!!

[Lonnygirl]

I have just come across this post!!! I love to hear that other people sit cross legged on office chairs.. I do this in the office. All of my colleagues give out about this and claim that this is causing my difficulties!!! but I find it so difficult to sit normally on a chair. My body seems too heavy to hold up and my hips seem to fall forward causing back pain!!

Its great hearing about weird things other people do!!!

Thanks everyone!! gave me a smile

[Jess]

Lonnygirl- I used to sit in the computer chair at home that was an office chair crossed legged and had the seat base tilted depending on the day either forwards or really far back.
I couldnt sit with my feet dagleing for too long as it hurt.

[Rach1972]

I sit crossed legged all the time and I prefer the floor as I can't fall any lower if that makes sense.
Rachx

[BendyBoff]

I love sitting cross legged and the other day I was chatting to the physio and was sat cross legged on the bed. She suddenly stopped talking and said 'that can't be good for your knees and hips' but I find it the most comfortable way to sit. Normal just hurts! xxx

[Lou661]

Sitting cross-legged used to be the most comfortable way from me to sit but it's causing a lot of pain and stiffness in my hips and pelvis now if I sit that way too long now. Current position in front of the computer for me (I have a laptop on a wee table) is on the sofa leaning the right sideof mybody against the armrest, my upper arm and elbowon a pillow and my lower arm and wrist resting on the table/laptop depending on whether I'm using the mouse or typing. My feet are together with my knees bent and drawn towards my body, one in the air and the other resting on the sofa ...so I'd probs be just aswell sitting cross-leggedbut this iscomfy for now.

Getting up is always fun too, if I'msat on a stair or seat low to the ground where my knees are just slightly above my hips I have to go right down on my haunches so my bum is almost touching the floor and get up from there otherwise my knees just won't straighten and I get stuck. Getting up frm the floor I have to put my left foot on the floor,rest my left forearm on it, right hand onto me left forearm and push everything togetherto get me into a stooped standing position and then "walk" my hands up my legs to straighten up. Luckily my upper body is nowhere near as lax as my lower body, if that ever happens I'll need to find a new way to get up.

Cavemonster that grip looks just fine to me,think the only difference is I would probably rest the bottom of the stemson a table to keep them square then cut across the top. The second"normal" pic looks wrong and VERY sore, if I tried that I'd just drop everything.

[shen]

When I unscrew a bottle, I dont turn the bottle, i just twist my arms instead, it gets a few odd looks when i'm out and about

[Lou661]

When I unscrew a bottle, I dont turn the bottle, i just twist my arms instead, it gets a few odd looks when i'm out and about

isn't that how you're supposed to do it ?