What Is The Correct Position To Sit On The Toilet?

Over time, humans, like other mammals, sat on their veins to rest, work, and eliminate feces. Currently, however, we have other conditions for the last “task”. But what is the correct position to sit on the toilet?

Toilet: a “luxury” item

The conditions for bathing changed radically in 1591, when Sir John Harington invented the toilet. At first, it was considered a “luxury” item. Not everyone had access to a toilet, but only royal families. This object could also be used by people with disabilities, but only in rare cases.

As the installation work developed, the toilet began to be produced at the industrial level, offering ordinary people “privileges” that until then were reserved only for the wealthy. At the same time, running water has replaced the state on the vein with another defecation position.

Scientific arguments: standing is the correct position to sit on the toilet

In his book, Gastroenterology , published in 1964, Dr. Henry L. Bockus concluded that standing on your back with your thighs glued to your abdomen is the best position to eliminate feces. 

Likewise, in his 1966 paper, Baia,  Dr. Alexander Kira argues that, by its nature, man needs to sit on his knees to meet his physiological needs because this position reduces the effort made to defecate.

Moreover, in 2003 Dr. Dov Sikirov published a study comparing the force exerted to sit down and that of sitting on the toilet. Thus, the specialist discovered that the sensation of emptying the intestines is more pleasant if you sit on your back. The sitting position requires extra strain and a longer period of time for the evacuation of excrement compared to standing.

What happens when we eliminate feces?

The term “defecation” can be defined as the process by which the final product of digestion is eliminated from the body. In this process, the enteric and parasympathetic nervous systems allow the development of several simultaneous actions, such as controlling the accumulation of feces in the colon or relaxing the external anal sphincter and puborectal muscle. The latter helps to create intra-abdominal pressure, evacuating waste.

The state is coming

It is worth mentioning that in order to go to the bathroom sitting on your back, the legs must be at an angle of 35 ° to the rest of the body. In this way, the muscles press on your abdomen. This action exerts pressure on the inner cavities of the colon, releasing and aligning the anal canal, facilitating defecation. Thus, the excrement is eliminated faster, easier and better.

Sitting position

When you sit on your bottom, your legs are at a 90 ° angle and your abdomen is pressed against your thighs. This position does not create a proper alignment between the rectum and anus.

In addition, the legs do not put pressure on the colon and abdomen. Therefore, you need to make an extra effort to dispose of the waste.

What benefits does the state offer, the correct position to sit on the toilet?

The correct position to sit on the toilet, sitting on the floor:

• It allows quick and easy disposal of excrement. 
• It prevents the passage of feces from the colon to the small intestine, reducing the risk of contamination.
• Prevents tension in the anal area, avoiding hernia, diverticulosis and other problems.
• It may be part of a non-invasive treatment for hemorrhoids.
• In the case of pregnant women, lying down prevents pressure on the uterus. In fact, this position helps prepare expectant mothers for childbirth.
• Prevents the accumulation of feces, one of the main factors that lead to appendicitis or irritable bowel syndrome.

It is also important to note that the 90 ° angle position in the toilet was also associated with the risk of developing colorectal cancer. However, a study by Sahand Sohrabi showed that this hypothesis is not yet conclusive.

How can you benefit from this information?

In the world of interior design for modern bathrooms, there are not many initiatives for the consideration of the state to come. However, we can adjust our toilet by using a footstool. It must be high enough to be able to sit at an angle of 35 °.

Some people choose to put their feet on the edge of the toilet so they can sit on their knees. But this option is not recommended at all, because you could fall or the toilet could break.