Jump to content

Squatting position

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Wikid77 (talk | contribs) at 06:38, 6 January 2016 (fix cite for time+minutes edited 2.3 years prior). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Squatting on the ground as a resting position.

Squatting is a posture where the weight of the body is on the feet (as with standing) but the knees are bent either fully (full or deep squat) or partially (partial, standing, half, semi, parallel or monkey squat). In contrast, sitting, involves taking the weight of the body, at least in part, on the buttocks against the ground or a horizontal object such as a chair seat. Crouching may involve squatting or kneeling. It is possible to squat with one leg and assume another position (such as kneeling) with the other leg.[1] Among Chinese, Southeast Asian, and Eastern European adults, squatting often takes the place of sitting or standing.[2]

Young children

Young girl playing at ease in a squatting position

Young children squat instinctively as a continuous movement from standing up whenever they want to lower themselves to ground level. One- and two-year-olds can commonly be seen playing in a stable squatting position, with feet wide apart and bottom not quite touching the floor, although at first they need to hold onto something to stand up again.[3]

Resting position

Full squatting involves resting one's weight on the feet with the buttocks resting on the backs of the calves. It may be used as a posture for resting or working at ground level particularly where the ground is too dirty or wet to sit or kneel.[1]

Most western adults cannot place their heels flat on the ground when squatting because of shortened Achilles tendons largely caused by habitually:

  • sitting on chairs or seats
  • wearing shoes with heels (especially high heels)

For this reason the squatting position is usually not sustainable for them for more than a few minutes as heels-up squatting is a less stable position than heels-down squatting.[4][5]

Catchers in baseball and wicket-keepers in cricket assume full squatting positions.

Childbirth position

Main article: Childbirth positions

Engelmann's seminal work "Labor among primitive peoples" publicised the childbirth positions amongst primitive cultures to the Western world. They frequently use squatting, standing, kneeling and all fours positions, often in a sequence.[6]

Various people have promoted the adoption of these alternative birthing positions, particularly squatting, for Western countries, such as Grantly Dick-Read, Janet Balaskas, Moysés Paciornik and Hugo Sabatino. The adoption of these alternative positions is also promoted by the natural childbirth movement.

The squatting position gives a greater increase of pressure in the pelvic cavity with minimal muscular effort. The birth canal will open 20 to 30% more in a squat than in any other position. It is recommended for the second stage of childbirth.[7]

As most Western adults find it difficult to squat with heels down, compromises are often made such as putting a support under the elevated heels or another person supporting the squatter.[8]

Sexual position

Main article: Woman on top

There are variations of the "cowgirl" sex position where the woman will be in a squatting position over the man, who is lying on his back, instead of kneeling over him. These are referred to by different names such as Asian cowgirl or frog squat position.

Female urination position

When not urinating into a toilet, squatting is the one way for a female to direct the urine stream (although many women find that they can do so standing up). If done this way, the urine will go forward downwards. Some females use one or both hands to focus the direction of the urine stream, which is more easily achieved while in the squatting position.

Acceptability of outdoor urination in a public place other than at a public urinal varies with the situation and with customs. In Western countries, males typically do this standing up, while females squat.

Hovering, often used to avoid sitting on potentially unclean toilet seats, may leave urine behind in the bladder.[9]

Defecation position

Main article: Squatting defecation posture
Some toilets allow the user to defecate in either the squatting or the sitting position

The squatting defecation posture involves squatting by standing with knees and hips sharply bent and the buttocks suspended near the ground. Squat toilets are designed to facilitate this posture. This is less common in the Western world.

Dynamic exercise

Main article: Squat (exercise)
Weightlifting moving from a full squat to standing position.

In strength training, the squat is a full body exercise that trains primarily the muscles of the thighs, hips and buttocks, as well as strengthening the bones, ligaments and insertion of the tendons throughout the lower body. Squats are considered a vital exercise for increasing the strength and size of the legs and buttocks.

Yoga

Main article: Garland Pose

Upavesāsana (literally sitting down pose) also known as the Yoga Squat, is an asana. Its name is often confused with mālāsana, a similar pose practiced with the feet together and the arms bound around the back.

The asana is a squat with heels flat on the floor and hip-width apart (or slightly wider if necessary), toes pointing out on a diagonal. The torso is brought forward between the thighs, elbows are braced against the inside of the knees, and the hands press together in front of the chest in Añjali Mudrā.[10]

Partial squat

A partial squat (also known as standing, half, semi, parallel) is an intermediate stage between standing and full squatting, that is, standing but with the knees bent. (In contrast, stooping involves bending at the waist rather than just the hips and knees). This may be used in a variety of contexts often as a "ready for action" posture:

  • the batsman's posture in cricket when waiting for a delivery.
  • waiting to receive a serve in tennis
  • used in the Alexander technique, as "the monkey squat" also known as the "position of mechanical advantage"[11]
  • to avoid back strain it is important to bend the knees whenever you lift a heavy object.[12]
  • plié in ballet is a type of partial squat balanced on the toes only and the legs turned outwards. (The grand plié has the thighs parallel to the ground like a parallel squat or demi-plie where the thighs are at about a 45% angle to the ground).
  • the parallel squat, often used in weight training, is just short of a full squat where the thighs are parallel to the ground.
  • the most widely used martial arts stance is a shallow standing squat. This position is generally employed as it is a neutral and agile position from which both attacks and defences may be launched. It provides for the delivery of force when attacking and stability when defending.
  • ready for action in sumo wrestling.
  • Monkey Kung Fu a Chinese martial art which utilizes ape or monkey-like movements as part of its technique.
  • a Besti squat is a figure skating move.
  • twerking is "to dance to popular music in a sexually provocative manner involving thrusting hip movements and a low squatting stance".[13]
  • Garudasana and Utkatasana are partial squats in yoga asanas.
  • Holding partial squat, especially for long time, has also been used as corporal punishment.
See also: Stress positions
Cultural references of partial squat holds
Cultural references of partial squat holds
Countries Works Dates Hand positions
China, People's Republic of Hot Girls 2012 Beside the waists[14]
Korea, South I Need Romance 2011 Forward[15]
Korea, South Reply 1994 2013 Forward[16]
Korea, South Unkind Ladies 2015 Forward[17]
Korea, South The Mafia, the Salesman 2007 Beside the waist while holding fire extinguishers[18]
Korea, South Who Slept With Her 2006 Forward;[19] Upward slightly while holding the top of a blackboard[20]
Taiwan Fabulous 30 2014 Forward[21]
Taiwan You Are the Apple of My Eye 2011 Forward[22]
Taiwan 4 Daughters 2010 Forward[23]
Taiwan Happy Together/4 Friends 2009 Upward while holding a bucket[24]
Taiwan Rookies' Diary 2 2011 Forward while dining as to train the leg power[25]
Taiwan Yes, Sir 1987 Upward while holding a rifle[26]
Taiwan Yes, Sir 1990 Upward while holding a rifle[27]

Lunge

A lunge is a variation of the partial squat where a leg is moved forwards with the knee bent but the other remains straight thus moving the upper body forward in line with the bent knee. For example:

Walking

Stalking or prowling is essentially walking while in or close to a full squat. This is designed to be a walk that maintains a low profile.

Health effects

There is increased incidence of knee osteoarthritis amongst squatters who squat for hours a day for many years.[28] There is evidence that sustained squatting may cause bilateral peroneal nerve palsy. A common name for this affliction is squatter's palsy although there may be reasons other than squatting for this to occur.[29][30][31]

Tetralogy of Fallot

Main article: Tetralogy of Fallot

Older children will often squat during a Tetralogy of Fallot "tet spell". This increases systemic vascular resistance and allows for a temporary reversal of the shunt. It increases pressure on the left side of the heart, decreasing the right to left shunt thus decreasing the amount of deoxygenated blood entering the systemic circulation.[32][33]

Squatting facets

The existence of squatting facets on the distal tibia and talar articular surfaces of skeletons, which result from contact between the two bones during hyperdorsiflexion, have been used as markers to indicate if that person habitually squatted.[34][35]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Hewes GW: ' World distribution of certain postural habits' American Anthropologist, 57, (1955), 231-44
  2. ^ Dobrzynski, Judith H. (17 October 2004). "An Eye on China's Not So Rich and Famous". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  3. ^ Slentz K, Krogh S Early Childhood Development and Its Variations (2001)
  4. ^ Mauss, Marcel. Les Techniques du corps 1934. Journal de Psychologie 32 (3-4). Reprinted in Mauss, Sociologie et anthropologie, 1936, Paris: PUF.
  5. ^ Bookspan, Jolie. "Save knees when squatting". Healthline.com. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  6. ^ Engelmann GJ Labor among primitive peoples (1883)
  7. ^ Russell JG. Moulding of the pelvic outlet. J Obstet Gynaecol Br Commonw 1969;76:817-20.
  8. ^ "Balaskas J Using the squatting position during labour and for birth" (PDF). Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  9. ^ "Preventing kidney infection". nhs.uk. National Health Service. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  10. ^ "Garland Pose". Yoga Journal. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
  11. ^ "The Monkey Squat". easyvigour.net.nz/. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  12. ^ "Lifting technique". Back.com. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  13. ^ Twerk, Oxford Dictionaries Online. Retrieved 28 August 2013
  14. ^ "Hot Girls". television series. Episode 12 (in Mandarin). 19 November 2012. Hunan Television.{{cite episode}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  15. ^ "I Need Romance". television series. Episode 3 (in Korean). 2011. TVN.
  16. ^ "Reply 1994". television series. Episode 13 (in Korean). 30 November 2013. TVN.
  17. ^ "Unkind Ladies". television series. Episode 17 (in Korean). 22 April 2015. Korean Broadcasting System.
  18. ^ Shim Seung-Bo (Director) (20 September 2007). The Mafia, the Salesman (Motion picture). South Korea. Event occurs at 75 minutes.
  19. ^ Kim Yu-seong (Director) (16 November 2006). Who Slept With Her (Motion picture). South Korea. Event occurs at 24 minutes.
  20. ^ Kim Yu-seong (Director) (16 November 2006). Who Slept With Her (Motion picture). South Korea. Event occurs at 25 minutes.
  21. ^ "Fabulous 30". television series. Episode 13 (in Mandarin). 27 February 2014. SETTV.{{cite episode}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  22. ^ Ko, Giddens (Director) (19 August 2011). You Are the Apple of My Eye (Motion picture). Taiwan. Event occurs at 47 minutes.
  23. ^ "4 Daughters". television series. Episode 6 (in Mandarin). 2010-11. TTV Main Channel. {{cite episode}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  24. ^ "Happy Together/4 Friends". television series. Episode 2 (in Mandarin). 2009. Event occurs at 64 minutes. China Television.{{cite episode}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  25. ^ "Rookies' Diary 2". television series. Episode 4 (in Mandarin). 13 May 2011. 22 minutes in. Formosa TV. Retrieved 13 August 2015.{{cite episode}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  26. ^ Chin Ao Hsin (Director) (20 June 1987). Yes, Sir (Motion picture). Taiwan. Event occurs at 45 minutes.
  27. ^ "Yes, Sir". television series. Episode 13 (in Mandarin). 1990. Event occurs at 7 minutes. CTS Main Channel. Retrieved 2 September 2015.{{cite episode}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  28. ^ Liu CM, Xu L Retrospective study of squatting with prevalence of knee osteoarthritis - 2007
  29. ^ Macpherson JM, Gordon AJ Squatter's palsy British Medical Journal, 1983
  30. ^ Kumaki DJ. The facts of Kathmandu: squatter's palsy. 2 January 1987;257(1):28.
  31. ^ "Toğrol E. Bilateral peroneal nerve palsy induced by prolonged squatting. Mil Med. 2000 Mar;165(3):240-2". Findarticles.com. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  32. ^ Murakami T (2002). "Squatting: the hemodynamic change is induced by enhanced aortic wave reflection". Am. J. Hypertens. 15 (11): 986–8. doi:10.1016/S0895-7061(02)03085-6. PMID 12441219.
  33. ^ Guntheroth WG, Mortan BC, Mullins GL, Baum D. Am Venous return with knee-chest position and squatting in tetralogy of Fallot. Heart J. 1968 Mar;75(3):313-8.
  34. ^ Barnett CH Squatting facets on the European talus J Anat. 1954 October; 88(Pt 4): 509–513.
  35. ^ Trinkaus E Squatting among the neandertals: A problem in the behavioral interpretation of skeletal morphology Journal of Archaeological Science Volume 2, Issue 4, December 1975, Pages 327-351

Further reading

Resting position

  • Hewes GW: The anthropology of posture Scientific American, 196: 122-132 (1957)

Dynamic exercise

Partiution

  • Gardosi J., Hutson N Randomised, Controlled Trial Of Squatting In the Second Stage of Labour 1989 The Lancet, Volume 334, Issue 8654, Pages 74–77
  • McKay S. Squatting: An Alternate Position For The Second Stage Of Labour Am J Maternal Child Nur 1984;9:181-183.
  • Nasir A., Korejo R., Noorani K.J. Child birth in squatting position. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association 2007/1;57:19-22
  • Paciornik M., Paciornik C., Birth in the Squatting Position (1979) Polymorph Films
  • Paciornik M., Paciornik C., Commentary: arguments against episiotomy and in favor of squatting for birth. Birth 1990 Dec;17(4):234, 236. and Birth 1991 Jun;18(2):119.
  • Paciornik M Use of the squatting position for birth. Birth 1992 Dec;19(4):230-1.

Health effects

  • Chakravarty A, Chatterjee S.K., Chakrabarti S. Blood pressure changes during squatting—a study in normal subjects and its possible clinical significance. Journal of the Association of Physicians of India. 2001 Jun; 49(): 678-9

Circulation

  • O'Donnell TV, McIlroy MB. The circulatory effects of squatting. Am Heart J. 1962 Sep;64:347-56.
  • Sharpey-Schafer EP Effects of Squatting on the Normal and Failing Circulation Br Med J. 12 May 1956; 1(4975): 1072–1074.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Crouching.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Squatting_position&oldid=698458142"