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I think the biggest advantage of squat toilets is that the users end up developing strong legs and balance. They develop the ability to be able to sit in a squ

by fouc 8y ago

I think the biggest advantage of squat toilets is that the users end up developing strong legs and balance. They develop the ability to be able to sit in a squat comfortably. It's great to have a free in-built chair for when you need to take a break.

imron 8y ago
The squatty potty is not a squat toilet, and won't develop leg muscles or balance. Regarding squat toilets, their biggest benefit IMO is hygiene - your skin never touches anything.
- seattle_spring 8y ago
  Yeah I'm not sure if you've ever been to a country that uses primarily squat toilets, but I've never seen nastier bathrooms than ones with squat toilets.
  - imron 8y ago
    I lived in various parts of Asia for over a decade, in countries where squatters were the dominant type of toilet, and yes they look and smell nasty, but that doesn't invalidate my point which is that my skin never has to touch any of it. Contrast this with a sitter, where even the 'clean' ones require contact with your skin. I'd take the squatter every time, thanks.
wawhal 8y ago
> I think the biggest advantage of squat toilets is that the users end up developing strong legs and balance On the contrary, they kill your knees. Sure one can feel nice about them in their youth, but it is pretty hard to use squat toilets in and after your late 60s.
- fouc 8y ago
  You can see many elderly chinese in their 60s and 70s still squatting in the parks. When they're no longer able to do that, they switch to folding chairs to act as the toilet seat. A full deep squat doesn't put the knee under as much tension as doing a half squat (or perpendicular squat).
  - remlov 8y ago
    A thousand times this. Having read "Starting Strength" pretty much put all the FUD about squats and how it's bad for your knees to rest for me.
    - brianwawok 8y ago
      Squatting and running. Both great for building strong knees but trashed by couch justifiers.
- caseyw 8y ago
  The people in my family young and old squat on a daily basis. My grandfather whom died in a car accident was 98 and would be squatting down in his garden. My father does with his dog at 76 just this past Sunday. It really isn’t a problem later in the families I’ve seen unless some sort of disability occurs. In those cases just like all we adapt.
- LitFan 8y ago
  If you squat with proper form, there is almost no pressure on your knees, because you're not pressing against them. Heels flat on the floor, knees in line with your toes, but behind them. If you don't have the hip mobility you need to get your knees behind your toes, you'll feel a strain on your knee. You should be able to lift your toes off the floor as you stand up - all the weight is on your heels.
- _carl_jung 8y ago
  Do you have a citation for this? Specifically, "after your late 60s": are you talking about people who don't squat ever, and then try to in their late 60s? Or are you talking about people who squat regularly and find themselves unable to squat after 60? If the latter, I find it hard to believe but I am open to citations.

by fouc 8y ago

imron 8y ago

The squatty potty is not a squat toilet, and won't develop leg muscles or balance. Regarding squat toilets, their biggest benefit IMO is hygiene - your skin never touches anything.

seattle_spring 8y ago
Yeah I'm not sure if you've ever been to a country that uses primarily squat toilets, but I've never seen nastier bathrooms than ones with squat toilets.
- imron 8y ago
  I lived in various parts of Asia for over a decade, in countries where squatters were the dominant type of toilet, and yes they look and smell nasty, but that doesn't invalidate my point which is that my skin never has to touch any of it. Contrast this with a sitter, where even the 'clean' ones require contact with your skin. I'd take the squatter every time, thanks.

wawhal 8y ago

> I think the biggest advantage of squat toilets is that the users end up developing strong legs and balance On the contrary, they kill your knees. Sure one can feel nice about them in their youth, but it is pretty hard to use squat toilets in and after your late 60s.

fouc 8y ago
You can see many elderly chinese in their 60s and 70s still squatting in the parks. When they're no longer able to do that, they switch to folding chairs to act as the toilet seat. A full deep squat doesn't put the knee under as much tension as doing a half squat (or perpendicular squat).
- remlov 8y ago
  A thousand times this. Having read "Starting Strength" pretty much put all the FUD about squats and how it's bad for your knees to rest for me.
  - brianwawok 8y ago
    Squatting and running. Both great for building strong knees but trashed by couch justifiers.
caseyw 8y ago
The people in my family young and old squat on a daily basis. My grandfather whom died in a car accident was 98 and would be squatting down in his garden. My father does with his dog at 76 just this past Sunday. It really isn’t a problem later in the families I’ve seen unless some sort of disability occurs. In those cases just like all we adapt.
LitFan 8y ago
If you squat with proper form, there is almost no pressure on your knees, because you're not pressing against them. Heels flat on the floor, knees in line with your toes, but behind them. If you don't have the hip mobility you need to get your knees behind your toes, you'll feel a strain on your knee. You should be able to lift your toes off the floor as you stand up - all the weight is on your heels.
_carl_jung 8y ago
Do you have a citation for this? Specifically, "after your late 60s": are you talking about people who don't squat ever, and then try to in their late 60s? Or are you talking about people who squat regularly and find themselves unable to squat after 60? If the latter, I find it hard to believe but I am open to citations.