Squatting posture in Asians and development of the inferior hip 'sourcil'

Abstract

The sitting and squatting positions among Asians during prayers, occupations and habit is common. It has been hypothesized that this may contribute to the low incidence of primary osteoarthritis of the hip as there is distribution of the joint forces all around the hip rather than over the acetabular dome only. A radiological study of the hip joint and pelvis in the anterior-posterior and squatting postures were undertaken in 30 individuals. Three groups of 10 individuals in each group were studied. All 10 elderly subjects who frequently squat had pristine hip joints with good radiological features like a horizontal and wide 'superior and inferior sourcil' and prominent ilial and ischial trabeculae. Most of the elderly and young individuals who infrequently squat, in the other two groups, had a prominent superior sourcil only with good ilial trabeculae. The ischial trabeculae and inferior sourcil were ill defined and under developed. This may lead to imbalance of the joint forces around the hip.