What's wrong with W- sitting?

What's wrong with W- sitting?^(1,2,3,4)

W-sitting occurs when a child sits on the floor with their knees bent and feet placed on the sides of their hips, forming a W shape when viewed from above.

Why does toddler seat in W-Sit?

Between the ages of 2 and 5, children experience significant development in skills such as balancing while climbing stairs. When using the W-sitting position, toddlers create a stable base for themselves, relying more on this wide base for balance rather than engaging their core muscles. Over time, children may become accustomed to this posture, potentially leading to a lack of development in core muscle strength. Research suggests that prolonged periods of W-sitting can result in a forward pelvic tilt in children.

Is W-sitting a worrisome?

There are few risks associated with W-sitting and many children prefer this position for play. However, it may be worth considering a few factors if your child regularly adopts this posture.

1. Limited Trunk/Core Strength: The wide sitting stance of the W position makes it easier to keep the body upright. When children sit in a W position, they do not need to engage their core muscles as intensely, which may hinder their development compared to other sitting postures.
2. Lack of Cross Body Movements: The position of the arms in a W shape hinders children's ability to rotate their upper bodies and extend their arms to the sides.
3. No Hand dominance: When a child sits in a W position, they have excessive trunk control and stability, making it convenient to use both hands for various tasks. Nevertheless, establishing a hand preference is crucial for future writing skills.
4. Increased Muscle Tightness: If a child has a tendency to experience muscle tightness or Hypertonia, sitting in a W position can exacerbate tightness in the hips, knees, and ankles.
5. Hip dysplasia: Sitting in the W position can cause the hips to rotate internally to an extreme degree, potentially causing them to shift out of the joint if the surrounding tissues are not able to support the movement.
6. Toeing walking pattern (or) pigeon toe walking: Excessive internal rotation of the hips in toddlers can lead to the toes pointing inward while walking, potentially causing discomfort in the knees and hips as weight is unevenly distributed on the legs.
7. Other Issues:

• Delayed developmental milestones
• Swayback posture

What can you do about your child's W-Sitting?

If your toddler enjoys W-sitting, you can take steps to break the habit. If you observe your child consistently sitting in the W posture, take action to correct the behaviour. Remind your youngster to "fix their legs" whenever you notice them sitting in a W position. Offer your child a little chair or stool instead of sitting on the floor. You can discourage w-sitting by demonstrating alternative ways to sit. Encourage your youngster to attempt the following positions:

1. Leg crossed
   
2. Legs in front
   
3. Legs to the side
4. Bottom waling races: Placing legs straight out, ask toddlers to move forward. This activity may help them to shift their weight back and forth to create movement and momentum.
5. Short Kneeling by maintaining buttocks on their heels. This position helps toddler improve balance with the narrow base of support by use of core muscles' strength.
6. High Kneeling by maintaining buttocks off of feet. This position helps to develop glutes and core muscles.
7. Squat position is a great choice of activities to enhances overall strength of all anti-gravity group of muscles.
8. Half kneeling: One knee on the ground and the opposite foot flat on the floor. this position provides great strengthening as well as stretching to tight muscles.​
   

Protect your child & your family's health Protection

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Reference

1. ​ https://shorturl.at/hBLx2
2. https://shorturl.at/bogXD
3. https://shorturl.at/wfkbt
4. https://shorturl.at/nWZGr​

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