What is the best sitting position for hemorrhoids?
Medically reviewed by Dr. Robert William, MD · Written by Kevin Schwaner · Updated July 2026
Quick Answer
To ease hemorrhoids, avoid prolonged sitting on hard surfaces and take standing breaks every 30 to 60 minutes. When sitting, use a cushion (a doughnut or wedge) to reduce direct pressure, keep good posture, and avoid slouching. On the toilet, use a footstool to raise your knees above your hips, which straightens the rectal angle and reduces straining.
Prolonged sitting pools blood in the rectal veins and raises the pressure that aggravates hemorrhoids, so the single best move is to interrupt it: stand and walk for a few minutes every 30 to 60 minutes. When you must sit, a cushion, either a doughnut ring or a firm wedge, reduces direct pressure on the area, and upright posture beats slouching.
The toilet is its own case. Placing your feet on a small footstool so your knees rise above your hips puts the body into a squat-like position that straightens the anorectal angle, making stool easier to pass with less straining. Keep visits short and avoid reading or scrolling, which prolongs sitting and bearing down, the exact pressure that forms and worsens hemorrhoids.
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Sources
- NIH / NIDDK: Hemorrhoids
- ASCRS Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Hemorrhoids
Related Questions
How do you prevent hemorrhoids? →What foods help hemorrhoids? →Can hemorrhoids go away on their own? →*Informational only, not a substitute for professional medical advice. Any rectal bleeding should be evaluated by a doctor. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.