The W’s of “W” sitting
What is it?
“W” sitting is when a child (or adult) sits in full bilateral hip internal rotation with full contact of bottom on ground, bent knees, and feet splayed out to the sides.
Why do children do it?
In this position, children are able to achieve a wider base of support which increases trunk and hip stability. This position requires less postural control and activation of the trunk musculature which can allow the child to concentrate on playing or a given task. The child can also easily transition from crawling and standing. This tends to be a position of comfort for children with poor core stability and children/adults with femoral anteversion (inward twisting of the thigh bone).
Why is it considered bad?
Many healthcare professionals believe that this type of sitting can lead to orthopedic conditions, delay development of postural control and stability, create weakness in the back, hips, and abdominals, stress muscles and joint capsules of hips, and possibly delay gross motor skills, coordination, and balance.
Other professionals believe that the reverse picture may be occurring. They believe children choose to sit in these positions due to underlying conditions such as femoral anteversion, low muscle tone, and muscle tightness.
What you can do?
Everything in moderation. If the child is transitioning in and out of different positions and occasionally chooses “W” sitting then this should not be concerning. But if the child is only sitting “W” style, then alternative positions should be utilized. In this instance, I urge you to encourage other positions like kneeling, ½ kneeling, long sitting, side sitting, cross legged (criss-cross applesauce), or a deep squat.
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I can't even sit like that ffs :'D
"Many healthcare professionals believe that this type of sitting can lead to orthopedic conditions".
Well many people think that when you doesn't refer to any of them, it's complete and utter bullshit.
Not one shred of evidence, nor a link to a study.
Ive sat like this pretty much my whole life, it mostly began because i play ice hockey in goals so its a natural position for me (whats known as the the butterfly in hockey) I have no postural problems, tbh i have quite good posture, my only problem to date (being 18) is i have a twist in my knees but this is from the standard goalie stance of today, my brother who is a goalie has it (but he doesnt sit in the w, never has) and most of my friends who are goalies have twists in there knees to. So i agree with most people here to say that this is BS cause i have never had a issue with it and i sit like it every day
My daughter was born with slight Lo muscle tone. Yes our orthopedic told us NOT to allow our daughter to sit in a W.
Damn what an ass on her
Criss cross apple sauce? What? Is she in kindergarten or something? And please give us some sources to substantiate that claim that w-sitting is harmful. I have joint and postural problems but I assure you it's not from "w-sitting" as I have rarely ever done that. I have scoliosis and rheumatoid arthritis and it does NOT come from any funky way of sitting.
I can''t even W sit without having sharp pain in my hip joints
I work with special needs kids for more than 15 years now! This is a really helpful video for people that they want to help their children. Great job! Bravo!
hahahaha !!!!!! . people have been sitting like this years and years and running into physical problems over and over, yet not a single credible doctor or physician has ever advised against it. uhm how about no !! how about this idiot doesn't know wtf shes talking about.
What kid sits like this 'all' the time, so that parents should be concerned? I mean, really….
Wtf ive never seen anyone sit like that looks uncomfortable