Dr Barbara Bergin says that many of the women she sees in her practice experience pain in their knees and hips, which she puts down to the "lady-like" cross-legged sitting position.
Crossing one leg over the other forces the femur to twist, putting strain on the joints and surrounding muscles. Manspreading allows your feet to plant firmly on the ground, keeping your body aligned and stable. Dr Bergin says this style of sitting actually has even more benefits for women over men as our pelvises are wider and naturally rotate the femur in.
"I'm not suggesting you S.L.A.M. [sit like a man] constantly," Dr Bergin said.
"I still think it's best to keep legs shut when wearing a skirt and in the presence of men. It's just proper and ladylike. But 90 percent of the time, sitting like a man is fine, and certainly better for your health."
