Why a small footstool in your bathroom aka Squatty Potty might actually change the way you poop

It sounds oddly simple, maybe even a little ridiculous at first. How can a tiny footstool beside your toilet possibly improve your health?

But over the past few years, doctors, gut health experts and pelvic floor specialists have increasingly backed one surprisingly effective bathroom habit: raising your feet while using the toilet. Yes, really!

Popularised by products like the Squatty Potty, bathroom footstools are designed to slightly elevate your knees while sitting on a Western-style toilet. According to digestive health experts, that small posture change may help make bowel movements easier, quicker and less uncomfortable. According to a report by WebMD, footstools can help create a more natural squatting posture that may reduce strain during bowel movements.

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In other words, your bathroom posture may matter far more than you think.

So… Why Does Sitting Normally Make Pooping Harder?

Modern toilets place the body in a seated 90-degree position. Comfortable? Sure. Ideal for bowel movements? Not exactly.

Doctors explain that when you sit upright, a muscle around the rectum, called the puborectalis muscle, remains partially tightened. That creates a slight bend in the rectum, making stool harder to pass naturally.

According to the American Physical Therapy Association Pelvic Health guide, raising the knees above hip level can help relax pelvic floor muscles and support easier bowel emptying.

That is also why many people end up:

-straining,

-sitting for too long,

-or feeling like they are “not fully done”.

Raising your knees above your hips using a small stool helps the body move closer to a natural squatting position. That relaxes the rectal muscles and straightens the pathway slightly, allowing bowel movements to happen more smoothly.

According to a study discussed in a report by TIME, participants using toilet footstools reported less straining and faster bowel movements. Basically, your body was designed to squat, not sit stiffly upright.

The Benefits Go Beyond Just “Comfort”

Experts say proper toilet posture may help:

-reduce constipation,

-decrease straining,

-support pelvic floor health,

-lower haemorrhoid risk,

-and help you spend less time on the toilet.

According to WebMD, squatting-style posture may improve the anorectal angle, which can make bowel movements easier and more efficient. One study referenced in the TIME report found that many participants experienced more complete bowel movements and reduced effort after using footstools regularly.

And honestly, if something can help people avoid turning the bathroom into a 25-minute scrolling session, that is already a win.

You Do Not Need an Expensive “Wellness” Gadget

The good news? You do not necessarily need a fancy branded product. Any stable low stool that comfortably raises your feet can help recreate the posture experts recommend.

According to pelvic health specialists from the American Physical Therapy Association, the ideal toileting position includes:

-feet elevated,

-knees slightly above hip level,

-leaning forward gently,

-elbows resting loosely on knees,

-and avoiding excessive pushing or straining.

It is less glamorous wellness hack and more “human anatomy working properly”.

Why Squatting Feels More Natural to the Body

Long before modern toilets became common, squatting was the normal bathroom posture across many parts of Asia and Africa. According to information compiled by Wikipedia’s overview on defecation posture, squatting has historically been considered the more natural elimination posture across several cultures. That is why some doctors say Western toilet design may not fully align with how the digestive system naturally functions.

A footstool does not completely replicate a full squat, but it helps bring the body closer to that position without requiring squat toilets themselves. Think of it as a posture correction tool, but for your gut.

There Is One More Important Bathroom Habit People Ignore

Doctors also warn that posture alone is not enough if your overall bathroom habits are unhealthy. If you:

-barely drink water,

-eat very little fibre,

-constantly delay bowel movements,

-or spend 20 minutes doomscrolling on the toilet every day,

even the best posture will only help so much.

According to a report by Health.com, prolonged toilet sitting may increase pressure on rectal veins and potentially worsen haemorrhoids. So yes, your phone may secretly be part of the problem too.

The Bottom Line

A bathroom footstool is not some magical wellness cure. But it is one of those rare health hacks that is inexpensive, easy to try, scientifically backed, and surprisingly practical.

And considering how many people silently deal with constipation, bloating and uncomfortable bowel movements, a small posture adjustment might genuinely make everyday life a little easier.