W Sitting
W sitting is where you sit with your knees inward and lower legs out, basically the opposite of criss cross applesauce. Although this position doesn’t seem as talked about in adulthood, we did talk about it in pediatric courses throughout my physical therapy education. In previous clinical experiences, we learned to correct “W” sitting because it showed a lack of trunk stability. During development, we want to make sure kids are going through certain steps to improve muscular and neuromuscular control.
I looked into the current research on an association with pain and sitting like this and didn’t find any convincing evidence to not ever sit like this in adulthood, but here’s my personal opinion and what I recommend to my clients:
Structurally, if you prefer more internal rotation of your femur (in W sitting), your hip joint may just sit a little farther forward. This is just an anatomical position that is most comfortable for your body. But, if you are hanging on your joints all of the time instead of using muscles to help you out, this can cause some wear and tear over the years. My suggestion is to change positions frequently. It’s also important to be working on our trunk stability and add bracing and trunk compression when appropriate.
While spending some time in this position shouldn’t cause harm based on current research, I personally still correct this with my clients. My fav position is sitting on a yoga block or folded towel, criss cross, with a pillow supporting the outer part of each knee. Try it out!
Do you sit like this? What have you been told about “W” sitting?
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