ORIGINAL PAPER
Prevalence of W-sitting in preschool and school age, with gait and foot analysis
1
Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
2
Sport Sciences and Diagnostics Research Group, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
3
Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
4
King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
These authors had equal contribution to this work
Submission date: 2025-01-19
Acceptance date: 2025-11-19
Online publication date: 2026-03-02
Corresponding author
Veronika Vasilcova
King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital, P.O.BOX: 22490, 11426 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital, P.O.BOX: 22490, 11426 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Purpose:
This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of W-sitting, gait, and foot analysis in preschool and school-age participants.
Methods:
A cohort study was conducted, including healthy participants without any pathology or other diagnoses. Foot disposition was determined using the Foot Posture Index (FPI-6), and gait patterns were analysed using the Zebris FDM platform. The study was conducted at the Gait Laboratory of King Abdullah Specialised Children’s Hospital and Prince Sultan University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A total of 190 participants were included, ranging in age from 12 to 109 months. The preschool-aged children (12–60 months) comprised 168 participants (88%), while the school-aged children (61–109 months) comprised 22 participants (12%).
Results:
The preschool group had a female majority (92, 55%), while males accounted for 76 participants (45%). W-sitting was observed in both groups, with 61 preschool participants (36%) and eight school-aged participants (36%) preferring this posture. Gait analysis revealed patterns specific to preschool children aged 12–60 months, indicating an increased pronation on the left foot. However, the overall risk of developing foot pronation or supination deformities in Saudi participants was low, though not negligible.
Conclusions:
W-sitting may impact foot posture and gait patterns. Early assessment of foot posture and gait during the paediatric age is recommended to minimise the risk of complications or deformities that may affect a child’s development.
This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of W-sitting, gait, and foot analysis in preschool and school-age participants.
Methods:
A cohort study was conducted, including healthy participants without any pathology or other diagnoses. Foot disposition was determined using the Foot Posture Index (FPI-6), and gait patterns were analysed using the Zebris FDM platform. The study was conducted at the Gait Laboratory of King Abdullah Specialised Children’s Hospital and Prince Sultan University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A total of 190 participants were included, ranging in age from 12 to 109 months. The preschool-aged children (12–60 months) comprised 168 participants (88%), while the school-aged children (61–109 months) comprised 22 participants (12%).
Results:
The preschool group had a female majority (92, 55%), while males accounted for 76 participants (45%). W-sitting was observed in both groups, with 61 preschool participants (36%) and eight school-aged participants (36%) preferring this posture. Gait analysis revealed patterns specific to preschool children aged 12–60 months, indicating an increased pronation on the left foot. However, the overall risk of developing foot pronation or supination deformities in Saudi participants was low, though not negligible.
Conclusions:
W-sitting may impact foot posture and gait patterns. Early assessment of foot posture and gait during the paediatric age is recommended to minimise the risk of complications or deformities that may affect a child’s development.
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