WHAT IS WRONG WITH “W” SITTING?

Parents and professionals should always discourage a child from the “W” sitting pattern. Regardless of the child’s age or how long he or she has been “W” sitting, or how much the child protests, he should still be consistently reminded to adjust his sitting pattern. Here are just some of the reasons:

• The head of the femur is actually pulled away from the acetabulum (hip socket), causing the ligaments which hold the bone into the socket to become stretched (lax). Each time the child “W” sits, the ligaments become more and more lax, creating a weaker hip joint. This ligamental laxity makes the child more prone to injury, as well as diminishing joint stability.
• Diminished joint stability at the hip causes the child to compensate by abnormal positioning and/or movement patterns. This can include a wide stance when standing or walking, which makes the child look ‘clumsy’ due to decreased balance.
• Diminished joint stability decreases the child’s ability to balance himself during sitting, standing, walking or running.
• During “W” sitting, the pelvis is tilted forward, which decreases the ability of the abdominal and trunk musculature to support the body in sitting. This forward pelvic tilt places unnatural pressure upon the lower back; creating a ‘swayback’ posture that can cause abnormal spinal curvatures, lower back weakness, and abdominal protrusion.
• The forward tilt of the pelvis and wide base of support inhibits trunk rotation. The development of good trunk rotation is essential to good balance, the child cannot develop good trunk rotation and therefore these muscles become weak and/or never have a chance to develop. Children with low muscle tone in the trunk will “W” sit because of this weakness. They should be encouraged to sit in alternative normal patterns which would develop strong trunk musculature.
• Children who have tight hamstrings (the muscles in the back of the legs) and /or internal rotators (the muscles on the inside of the legs) will prefer the “W” sitting position. This abnormal method of sitting will make the tight musculature even tighter.

FOR YOUR CHILD’S SAKE, PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO SIDE-SIT, LONG SIT, OR SIT CROSS-LEGGED INSTEAD OF “W” SITTING.