Squatty Potty Stool

Sit less. Squat right. Let your body finish the job. 🚽

The pedestal toilet is barely two centuries old. It holds the hips, knees and ankles at roughly 90 degrees — comfortable for almost everything the body does, except this. A band of muscle called the puborectalis wraps the lower rectum like a sling and stays partly contracted at rest, creating a deliberate bend that helps you stay continent the rest of the day. Sitting upright does not fully release that sling, so most people end up pushing against the bend rather than simply opening it. Anatomists have described this since the 1960s as a hose bent sharply at the tap: contents can still pass, but only with extra pressure behind them.

Opens the angle, without the floor squat. Feet up, knees above hips, and the anorectal angle moves from roughly 90 to 100 degrees up to around 115 to 120 — most of the way toward a full Malasana squat, without the deep ankle dorsiflexion, knee flexion and hip mobility that arthritis, joint replacements, pregnancy or simply ageing can take off the table.

Built for the job. An arched shape that curves around the toilet base so it tucks in flush instead of sitting awkwardly out in front. A dimpled non-slip top that keeps bare or socked feet secure even in a humid bathroom. Three ridged reflexology rollers to gently work the soles of your feet while seated. Four wide-set legs that hold their footing on tile, stone or vinyl, with no rocking and no sliding.

Measured in seconds, not guesswork. In the most-cited study in this field, 28 volunteers aged 17 to 66 averaged 51 seconds to satisfactory emptying while squatting, against 130 seconds on a standard toilet and 114 on a lower one (Sikirov, 2003, Digestive Diseases and Sciences). A 2019 study of exactly this device category found improved bowel movement duration, straining patterns and completeness of evacuation in healthy subjects (Modi, Hinton et al., J. Clinical Gastroenterology). We also publish the counterpoint: a 2022 randomised trial found a footstool did not significantly aid simulated defecation in patients with undifferentiated constipation (Trieu et al., Gastroenterology). A fair account includes the study that did not work.

How to use it. Slide the stool against the toilet base so the arch wraps around it, flush and without wobbling. Sit normally, then place both feet on the stool — your knees should rise noticeably above your hips. Lean slightly forward, elbows near your knees, and let the position do the work. Avoid pushing or holding your breath. Many people notice a difference immediately; others take a week to adjust.

Who it helps most. Older adults, anyone recovering from a knee or hip procedure, people with arthritis, and women in later pregnancy — exactly the group for whom a full floor squat is hardest.

A wellness accessory, not a medical device. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Check with your doctor first if you are managing a diagnosed bowel condition such as IBD, diverticular disease or rectal prolapse, have significant hip, knee or pelvic joint limitations, or are in late pregnancy. See a doctor for persistent constipation, bleeding or pain.