"Straighter is Greater!" YES Only, I think we'd have to be pretty clear what "straight" is referring to given the current social climate here in the US....

Good luck, Claire! I'm excited for you (does that sound weird, because it sort of feels like it should...)!

Ok, to your question- I can't say I ever really noticed a problem sitting "Indian style." I did it pretty routinely, though like Cranker, I found "crossing like a lady" uncomfortable before and after. It's a learned posture, though, and not a good position for anybody's joints. "Indian style" was actually the first position post op I felt comfortable sitting in, and I might even say it's still the most comfortable style for me (minus when the hardware was in- it pinched the muscles terribly in that position). Now, for 30 years my hip muscles were excessively rotating the femur outwards to compensate for the internal rotation, and twisting my hip out in that position is putting the muscles into a position that they were used to, so it makes sense to me. I have noticed, however, that as I gain internal hip rotation (and don't have to stretch as aggressively all day every day), that I sit cross legged less and less. I imagine in a few years that it won't be nearly as comfortable once my hip muscles are more used to internal rotation being the norm and external rotation being used relatively infrequently. Does that make sense?

I definitely notice that after sitting cross legged for any period of time, when I get up my gait is horrible. Both feet want to point out, and I have to stretch to get the internal hip rotation back to walk correctly. That being the case, I should probably stop sitting "Indian style" all together so as to erase that external hip rotation muscle memory. If that's possible. I may be misjudging the situation, and Doc may have something to say on the subject

Claire...

Let me jump in here for a moment or two!  I was NEVER one to sit indian style-I sat in a 'w' position and even slept that way for 13 years as I simply couldn't sit indian style and found another way to sit that worked and back then, no one was drilling myself, parents, or teachers to not allow me to sit that way!  After the derotational osteotomies, 'w' sitting or even attempting to get into that position is impossible (which is a good thing I suppose)!  I can sit indian style now for the most part-I was able to do it pre MPFLr in July, which was post derotational osteotomies but the MPFLr is wreaking havoc on my life and some of those simple positions.  And considering I teach preschoolers with disabilities all day long, floor sitting is a big part of my life and frustrates me the most as it's such a simple thing people take for granted!  I have major hip impingement now that is waiting to be rectified over the summer and am sure that is also impacting my indian style sitting.  But simply know that for me, it was something I couldn't do pre derotational osteotomies for more than a few minutes and was something I was able to do post and now not so much due to other issues.