5 benefits and pelvic floor

Squatty Potty is a toilet footstool designed to mimic the natural squatting position, promoting faster and more complete defecation (poo). Constipation is a common gastrointestinal disorder. In the United States alone, more than 2.5 million people visit their health care provider each year seeking relief from uncomfortable constipation symptoms.

Countries where squatting toilets are the norm have significantly lower rates of constipation, suggesting a strong link between posture and ease of defecation.

In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of using a Squatty Potty or similar device to correct poop position, when posture correction is helpful, and what to use to create a squatty potty.

Squatting toilets: 5 benefits of height and position

Defecation is the body’s way of removing solid waste after digesting and absorbing nutrients from food. Defecation is a natural and essential bodily function, but for some people, the act of passing stool doesn’t happen as quickly as it does for others.

Squatty Potty and other defecation posture correction devices provide a solution. Elevating your feet with a simple footrest keeps your rectum straight and in line with your colon, creating a smooth path for waste to leave your body and minimizing strain.

easier elimination

Using a squatty toilet creates a smooth path for waste to leave your body and helps you avoid straining when defecating. Raising your legs on a footstool increases the angle between your anus and rectum. puborectal muscles to relax. Normally, the puborectalis muscle remains flexed when standing or sitting to maintain incontinence (preventing stool leakage). Elevating your legs allows waste to pass through your anus and rectum more easily.

Distortion reduction

The human body is designed to eliminate waste products in a squatting position with the knees bent and the torso tilted forward. This position keeps the rectum and anus straight, allowing waste to pass through easily.

Sitting on a standard toilet seat bends your rectum and interferes with the natural flow of stool. For many people, this unnatural position can lead to straining during defecation, which can lead to constipation, incomplete bowel movements, and hemorrhoids.

The Squatty Potty allows you to position your hips in a similar angular position to a squat, allowing for a more relaxed and effortless bowel movement by adjusting your body position to minimize strain on the muscles involved in bowel movements. I encourage you.

complete evacuation

Squatty Potty and similar tools can help support complete bowel movements and avoid the discomfort caused by incomplete bowel movements. A 2019 study that investigated the effect of body position on bowel movements found that participants who previously reported experiencing incomplete bowel movements experienced significant improvement and complete bowel movements after using a squatty toilet for two weeks. It turns out that we have confirmed an increase in sensitivity.

faster bowel movements

Using a footstool like the Squatty Potty streamlines the waste elimination process and promotes stool evacuation more efficiently. Research shows that defecating on a standard pedestal toilet can take almost twice as long as using a footstool to elevate your legs and hips.

Study participants took an average of 113.5 seconds to defecate using a standard toilet, compared to just 55.5 seconds when using a footstool. This suggests that by promoting the natural alignment of the rectum and anus, bowel movements may be faster and more efficient, meaning less time spent straining on the toilet.

enhanced pelvic floor support

Squatty toilets indirectly protect the pelvic floor muscles by making it easier to defecate and may prevent pelvic floor dysfunction. Placing your knees slightly above your hips when using a squatty toilet will relax your pelvic floor muscles and reduce tension during defecation.

Straining puts pressure on the pelvic floor muscles, increasing the risk of pelvic floor dysfunction and related conditions such as incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.

Conditions for profit

Although not a one-size-fits-all solution, Squatty Potty and similar tools may help people with certain conditions, including:

• constipation: The Squatty Toilet promotes proper alignment and relaxes the rectal muscles, facilitating the flow of waste and reducing tension. This can help people who suffer from chronic or occasional constipation.
• hemorrhoids: Straining during defecation is a common cause of hemorrhoids. Minimizing strain with the Squatty Potty may reduce bleeding and relieve existing hemorrhoids or prevent the development of new ones.
• digestive discomfort: Bloating, gas, and abdominal pain are often caused by incomplete bowel emptying. Using the Squatty Potty may help relieve these unpleasant symptoms by making bowel movements easier.
• pelvic floor condition: Although research is ongoing, some studies suggest that squatting during defecation may indirectly benefit weak pelvic floor muscles and may help prevent or manage conditions such as prolapse and incontinence. Suggests.
• pregnancy: During pregnancy, increased hormone levels and the growth of the uterus can put pressure on your intestines, leading to constipation. Squatty toilets may reduce constipation during pregnancy and reduce the risk of hemorrhoids.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): People with irritable bowel syndrome regularly face digestive discomfort such as constipation and diarrhea. Squatty Potty can help people with IBS and other digestive disorders reduce bowel problems and make bowel movements more comfortable.

Need to use a squatty toilet?

With its catchy name and clever advertising, you may be wondering if the Squatty Potty is just a gimmicky gadget or a true game-changer for improving your bowel habits. Basic Squatty Potty models start at around $25. If you suffer from constipation, hemorrhoids, or general discomfort when urinating, it may be worth considering the potential benefits.

Ultimately, deciding whether to try Squatty Potty is a personal decision. If you suffer from constipation, hemorrhoids, or general discomfort when urinating, it may be worth trying a Squatty Potty or similar device.

What to use to make a squatting toilet

While squatty toilets are the most popular option for easing your bowel movements, they are not the only way to do so in a more natural squatting position. There are several options for adjusting your body position for smooth bowel movements:

• stepping stone: A simple step stool commonly used in the kitchen can be repurposed for use in the bathroom.
• stackable stools: For customizable heights, stackable stools allow you to adjust the number of tiers until you find the perfect height to squat comfortably.
• milk crate: A milk crate can serve as an impromptu footrest in a pinch.
• DIY wooden stool: If you’re comfortable with tools, you can have complete control over the design of your stool by creating a custom stool that’s tailored to your height and toilet dimensions.

Although the Squatty Potty and similar tools have promising potential for improving digestive health, consult your health care provider if you continue to experience constipation, hemorrhoids, or other digestive problems.

summary

Although passing stool is a natural function and relatively easy to do, it is not always easy due to constipation, hemorrhoids, and other digestive problems. Fortunately, bowel posture correction devices like the Squatty Potty can help alleviate digestive-related concerns.

By elevating your legs, aligning your rectum and anus, and supporting your body’s optimal defecation position, the squatty toilet helps minimize strain, promote smooth evacuation, and reduce the frequency of constipation.