Shabina Akhtar explains: Legs turning numb is quite a common phenomenon, which most of us must have felt as a consequence of sitting in a particular posture for a long time. Dr Sushil Kumar Das, General Physician, Pariksha Diagnostic Centre, Howrah, says, the sciatic nerve controls and provides sensation to the muscles of our buttocks, thighs, legs and feet. This nerve runs down from the pelvic girdle (hips) to the legs. Anything that puts pressure on this nerve as with prolonged sitting can hinder the nerve function or sensation of the lower legs. The hindering of the nerve function due to compression leads to the numbness of the feet.

“Blood flow to lower extremities (lower limbs) gets hampered if a person sits in an un-anatomical posture for a long time and this could also result in numbness,” added Dr Das. When we sit for a prolonged period in a particular posture, it leads to the accumulation of blood in the legs and ankle region, which restricts the draining away of the deoxygenated by the veins. The result is the gradual depletion of oxygen in the legs, which causes a dull aching pain or heavy feeling.

According to Dr Das, “Neuropathy (a condition in which a person suffers from nerve damage often associated with an underlying disease) can also lead to such conditions.” Diseases like diabetes, lumbar spondylitis and acute weakness due to malnutrition may also cause such a problem.

The question was sent by Rohit Murmu from Purulia