Why do humans tend to sit with one leg over the other rather then both legs down?

Question

I would of thought biology would like us to be symmetrical for maximum comfort. But after sitting down for some time humans tend to put one leg over the other? Is there a biological reason for this?

In: 122

Answer 1

First, remember that chairs are an inventiion only a few hundred years old. For most of human history people hunkerd, knelt, squatted, or crouched, or lay down.

In my case, and according to both a book I have read and some of my medical textbooks, it’s because most chairs hurt peoples’ lower backs, or take a lot of postural effort to prevent hurting the lower back.