Recently,  our staff was interviewed by the editors of Mobility Management magazine about the mechanics of standing for a person who uses a wheelchair. Here is some insight into standing, how it affects the body, and how standing for an able-bodied person compares to a person with a disability. You can also read the complete article, as published in Mobility Management magazine, “Up and At ‘Em, The Physics and Benefits of Standing Wheelchair Users”.

1. Describe what happens to the body when a person moves from a sitting to a standing position in terms of weight redistribution, changes in posture, etc.

When moving from a sitting position to the standing position, the weight shifts from the client’s seat and back  to the legs and feet. You see an opening of the thoracic area, with the hips over the knees and feet, and the shoulders and head over the pelvis. Changes can also be noted in posture, breathing, increased alertness and visual focus.

2. Describe how a standing frame mechanically provides support and balance to enable a wheelchair user to stand. Mechanically, is the sit-to-stand motion the same or similar to how an able-bodied person moves from sitting to standing? Describe any differences.

A sit-to-stand standing frame, by its very nature, becomes the support for the user because it provides both anterior and posterior support giving the user front and back stability that they do not have on their own. It holds the feet, knees, hip area, and torso in the correct geometry to safely transition the user from the sitting to the standing position.  This is done (in an EasyStand Evolv or EasyStand Bantam) with foot plates, knee blocks, seating surface, anterior support for the upper body, and in most cases, a back surface.  In addition, other peripheral supports such as thoracic and hip supports and headrests can be added, depending on the individual need of the user. The user transitions to standing with a gas cylinder assist or manual hydraulic pump. In some cases a  battery powered actuator is available as an optional transition method.

When an able-bodied person rises from a chair to the standing position, the torso is moved forward to change the center of gravity so that the body’s muscles can overcome the weight of the body to accomplish the standing motion.  For a person with a disability who can not use all of these same muscles, this center of gravity shift is not necessary.  When using a sit-to-stand standing frame, the torso remains more or less vertical, which is an added benefit to help the user maintain their spatial orientation.  The fear of falling forward is dispelled by providing the back support and remaining in a vertical position.

3. Once a person in a standing frame is standing, what percentage of their body weight is being borne by the client, and what percentage by the standing frame? Does this weight-bearing percentage vary from client to client or diagnosis to diagnosis?

There are many variables which affect this.  How much of a “hug” to the body that the various support options are providing is the chief factor of this.  Some say up to 95-98% weight bearing by the user can be attained in the right circumstances (structural body type and support options).There will be cases where a doctor or therapist may not want full weight bearing, and this can be achieved by positioning the sit-to-stand standing frame in a partially upright stance, if that is what’s desired.  More weight is born by the combination of the seating surface and knee blocks as the user is further from being completely upright.

4. Do standing frames work differently for clients with different diagnoses? For instance, are the mechanics of movement from sit to stand or the weight-bearing percentages different for someone with cerebral palsy vs. someone with paraplegia?

The basic mechanics of movement are the same for all sit to stand standers, they support and align the user from sitting to standing for a weight bearing program. The effect on the clients can be different for different persons, not just by diagnosis, but even within the same diagnosis, as we all have different body sizes and and different needs. Thus the importance of individual assessment and trial. Consumers use standers for various reasons, some stand for loading of bones to prevent osteoporisis, others to maintain L/E ROM and or L/E tone reduction, others to improve upper body and head control, etc.

5. Which clients can benefit from standing regimens? What physical and cognitive prerequisites does a client need to have? Are there any diagnoses that prohibit standing?

Many clients’ can benefit from a standing program; most clients with diagnoses from congenital disorders,  degenerative or progressive neuromuscular disease, or from an injury or trauma can benefit from weight bearing in a stander. Again, clinical recommendations as to the safety of weight bearing for the “individual client” are necessary, as not every body is an appropriate candidate for a standing program. Some contraindications and precautions include (but are not limited to); existing contractures, non-flexible skeletal deformities, osteoporosis- existing bone loss that could cause fracture, and postural hypotension.

6. What are the physical, cognitive and emotional/social benefits of standing?

Physical benefits of standing include: Prevention of contractures (ankles, knees, and hips), Improving range of motion, Reduction of spasticity, Prevention or reversal of Osteoporosis, Improvement/normalization in renal function, circulation, respiratory and bowel function.

Cognitive benefits of standing include: Increased cognition, being more alert, enhanced social participation with peers (when standing both in a static and in a mobile stander), and eye-to-eye status. Standing can lift the client’s mood which helps prevent depression. With better upper body positioning many find it easier to be more vocal.

Do you have any specific questions about implementing a standing program for your clients? Please share your comments or questions below.

Last week hundreds of bikers traveled to Sturgis, one of the biggest motorcycle rallies of the year!  Riding hundreds of miles on a motorcycle can be hard on the body, so many of them take measures to increase comfort.  Some bikers buy special motorcycle cushions (did you know that the same company that makes Roho wheelchair cushions also makes motorcycle seats?).  Others do exactly what anyone who has been on their bottom too long does, and stops along the way to stand up and stretch out.

Sitting in a wheelchair is somewhat similar to motorcycling, it can be “Bad for the Bones” and other parts of the body, but in many cases standing can help.  Check out this video featuring none other than Shawn Dean…and yes you have probably read a few of Shawn’s posts right here on the EasyStand Blog.

In this video “Wheelchair: Bad for the Bone” he tells his story on what he would have done different after his SCI rehab had he known he was vulnerable to Osteoporosis.

What benefits have you seen from standing?  Did you start standing soon after rehab?

If you’ve glanced at the news lately, it seems the time is nigh for a spinal cord injury (SCI) cure. What’s the world buzzing about? The FDA giving Geron (a bio-med corporation in California) the go-ahead to begin the first ever human trials in the United States using embryonic stem cells. Newly paralyzed individuals (with no longer than 2 week old injuries) will be the first test subjects, and there’s a lot of hope riding on them.

Where do I, someone who’s been paralyzed for 17 years, fit into all of this? Should I be doubling over in excitement, hinging my hope for a better life on whether this first-of-it’s-kind human trial succeeds? I would, if it were 1994 – 1996; those couple years after my injury where all I could do was think about what I had lost and dreaming (sometimes obsessively) of walking (and pirouetting and kicking and skipping…) again; a period where being paralyzed seemed like the worst thing in the world (I was a teen at the time and already suffering from enough teenage angst).

Or should I eschew the human trials altogether and be offended they think I need fixing in the first place? Like one of those people who thank God for their injury? No…that’s not my style. I’m too much of an honest gal to fully get on the “This Ain’t That Bad” train. Quadriplegia is a hard life. I’ll never get used to it and I’ll never prefer it over a fully-functioning body. But that doesn’t mean I still can’t be happy and not obsess about a precarious study happening 1,500 miles away.

After much contemplation, I think the key word here is Balance. Learning how to focus on the here-now (and what I can control) vs. still having hope and not becoming a paralyzed ninny. I’m striving for the perfect combination of being a realist vs. being a dreamer, and I think now more than ever before this two-handed approach is vital.

I still do my range of motion religiously morning and night, and use my standing frame several times a week (Dr. Wise Young recommends 1-2 hrs/day in order to keep your bones in walkable condition), but my chance of being a test subject is slim. Why? My ancient SCI status. I have 17 years worth of scar tissue building up around my injury site. One look at my stats and I’m quite sure I’d be about 500,000th on the list. Personally, I think I’d be a great subject (my body heals, adapts fast), but my opinion on my vitae would be swiftly trumped by the numbers/years card.

If it’s one thing I’ve learned since 1993, it’s that the years go by fast. Damn fast. It’s 2010 and my teens, my 20’s, and even my 30th year are now over. Experiences are flying by left and right and I refuse to miss out just because I can’t walk. Don’t get me wrong, I‘m still thrilled at these exciting research developments. So great! I have hope. It’s vital for the human condition. I hope my birthday party next week rules, I hope to get married one day, and yes, I really really hope Geron succeeds.

I’m just not going to let my grits cool as I wait.

What do the stem cell trials mean to you? Are you a realist , dreamer or a combination? What are you doing today to keep your body ready for medical breakthroughs of tomorrow?

There are numerous medical benefits for a person who uses a wheelchair for mobility to participate in a consistent standing program (and research studies to back them up). But how do the medical benefits translate into improved quality of life? Let’s take a closer look at some of the medical benefits of a standing program and how they translate into an improved quality of life:

Standing decreases abnormal muscle tone/improving head, neck, upper body muscle control, & facilitating symmetrical posture.

Improved Quality of Life Example: When there are issues with spasticity or poor muscle control, positioning is effected. Regular standing programs can help by re- aligning the body and decreasing abnormal spasticity allowing transfers, positioning and sleep to regain more normal function.

Standing improves range of motion in the spine hips, knees, and ankles.

Improved Quality of Life Example: Again, it helps facilitate a better seated position.  Also, without normal range of motion, everyday tasks such as transferring and laying down in bed may become very difficult. Once a client has the ability to stand on a daily schedule usually L/E ROM increases and transfers and bed positioning become easier.

Nila stands 2x a week at the MS Achievement Center. Click on her photo to read how standing helps her quality of life.

Standing reduces pressure issues.

Improved Quality of Life Example: Standing gets the user out the wheelchair position and gives adequate pressure relief to reduce the risk of pressure sores and the other medical issues that pressures sores create. Pressure issues can be life threatening, as they were for Christopher Reeves.  In addition to getting the appropriate cushion to reduce pressure issues, it is also important to change positions to get pressure relief. Standing helps to relieve pressures from areas that were not meant to bear weight, and places weight on areas meant to bear weight, such as the feet.

Standing improves systemic functions including bladder, digestive, respiratory, and circulation.

Improved Quality of Life Examples:

Bladder- While standing in the upright position, gravity can assist with complete emptying of the bladder, decreasing the risk of urinary tract infections (UTI’s).

Digestive- In the upright standing position, gravity can assist motility and can help with transit time decreasing chances of impaction and regulating bowel programs.

Respiratory-Standing in the upright position gives the lungs room to expand allowing complete inhalation and exhalation, versus having a scrunched chest.  By giving the chest full expansion and contraction space (versus the seated position) this upright position allows for a more productive cough, better vocalization, and better quality breathing (i.e. we sing while standing).

Circulation- Standing allows the body to get full blood circulation, improved circulation and more oxygen getting to brain helps increase attention span and focus., increases stamina and energy.

How have you witnessed a standing program increase the quality of life for a person who is usually in the seated position? What other steps have you taken to improve the quality of life for your clients?

“It feels great to stand up and workout, standing keeps my body in shape and my dog Sadie is my trainer.” Todd is a C6-7 Quadriplegic with a sense of humor who has been standing since May of 2000. “I use my EasyStand Glider about 30-45 minutes, 3 times a week. I love standing…helps with muscle spasms…keeps my arms in shape…and has helped my balance while sitting in the wheelchair. Also helps keep pressure sores off my butt. It took me about 2 months to lose 10 lbs and my goal is to stand every day for 1 hour!”

What’s your standing story or goal?  Post a little bit about yourself in the comments below or share your story and photo via our website or our Facebook page and get a t-shirt.  You could be featured in a future blog post just like Todd!

Standing programs for children with disabilities are part of the natural routine at Normandy Park Preschool. Advance for Physical Therapy and Rehab Medicine magazine recently published an insightful article called, Let’s Stand Together. Written by a PT and OT team that work for Normandy Park, the article emphasizes the importance of routines for children and how to help kids succeed with a standing program by making it part of the natural routine of their school day. Writers Laura Krueger, PT and Mary Coleman, OT write that, “Being in a stander during the natural routine of the school day allows children to work on all areas of development, including language, cognitive and social skills, while also emphasizing their motor skill ­development.”

Laura and Mary also know the importance of fun, repetition, and social interaction in a child’s typical school day. Children stay motivated and learn more while they are having fun.  With this in mind, the students at Normandy Park take part in activities such as singing at circle time, reading books, painting and playing with friends to redirect them from the fact that they are doing all this while in their stander.

Here, Lily stands in her EasyStand while reading a book with the help of a voice output communication aid, attached with an extension arm. She reads by activating the switch with her head and her friends turn the pages.

Another key factor to school standing program success is repetition.  Mary and Laura work closely with their students’ families to get the child a stander for home use, in addition to school.  They also utilize standers that can easily go from sit to stand, like the EasyStand Bantam, allowing kids to stand for a while, then take a break in a sitting or supine position, all without being transferred out of the stander.  The article explains, “When the standing program is used on a consistent basis in the classroom, it also helps create a predictable environment for the child with clear expectations for optimal learning.”

“When the standing program is used on a consistent basis in the classroom, it also helps create a predictable environment for the child with clear expectations for optimal learning.”

In addition to the medical benefits of standing, standing helps children to better socially interact with their peers.  At Normandy Park, they focus on keeping the children with disabilities in the classroom with their peers, and incorporate standing therapy into their day.  Whether in the classroom or gym, the child with a disability feels more included and part of the group, when they can be interacting with other students who are standing.  Games, art projects or puzzles can all be played interactively on the stander’s tray with a small group of kids.  Laura and Mary have noticed another benefit from standing, “When children with disabilities are standing and moving around the gym with friends, we often hear many more vocalizations and language since they are communicating.”

It is great to hear activity ideas and success stories from therapists, teachers, and parents who have experienced what standing therapy can do for kids.  Here is a case study about one little girl that Laura and Mary have worked with a Normandy Park – Standing is Part of Lily’s Natural Routine at School.

Does your child stand in school or at home? How do you make standing part of their everyday routine? How do you make standing fun for them? Please add your comments below.

Recently I was confined to a window seat in the back row of an airplane after a long week of work, and I wanted to stand up and stretch. I opted not to because it would’ve in-convenienced the guy next to me who looked tired and on top of that he didn’t speak my language. With a few hours of flight time left I started thinking about what drives a person to want to get into a standing position. Not a wheelchair user myself,  I wonder what my motivations would be if getting into a standing position required more than a subconscious thought and almost involuntary movement. What if my flight lasted a lifetime rather than a couple hours?

I think that motivations can be different for each person. Understanding individual motivations might be easier to identify when you consider the person’s diagnosis, age, environment and the things they are trying to accomplish.

If you review the easystand.com website you will find that much of what Altimate Medical focuses on in our corporate messaging are the health benefits associated with standing. Health benefits are important to many EasyStand users, but the main reason we concentrate so heavily on this message is because we are not just speaking to standing frame users. We are also speaking to their therapists, parents,  insurance companies, state Medicaid’s, or other parties involved in their care. In most cases standing equipment is paid for based solely on a medically justifiable benefit for the client and so it is crucial that these be understood and well communicated.

However, when it breaks down to an individual there are many other reasons people choose to stand, beyond the medical benefits. I know it is beneficial for me to exercise daily, but realistically the health benefit is not the main reason that I personally choose to stay active. Even though I don’t exercise as much as I should, the reasons I do are to play with my kids, have fun, compete, socialize, push myself, test my diminishing limits, and simply to feel good. I also appreciate the health benefit but, it’s only a small part of my motivation. Although this is not a perfect analogy, I think the same can be said for those who decide to stand. Motivations for wanting to stand are probably varied and go well beyond the medical benefit.

Why do kids stand? Some kids stand because they are told to, because it’s the program and it’s decided for them. Better question, why do kids want to stand?

You don’t have to fit kids into EasyStands very long before you realize they are not always thinking about medical benefits. Kids like to stand because other kids do, or because they like to see how tall they are compared to others. I have noticed that social forces are a strong motivator for kids. “When I am bigger” they say (they are talking about height usually). Kids like to move, why is that? Watching kids in EasyStands many times they love to go up and down, and up and down, if they can control it themselves. “Sit still!” We tell kids. Now really, what kid wants to sit still? What kid even understands sitting still?

I notice kids in EasyStands telling me they also like the “feeling”. I used to think they were speaking about the psychological effect, but they can also be speaking about the physical feeling. Increased respiration, cardio, stretching out… of course it feels good to stand! That’s why I wanted out of my window seat.

Some kids use the standing position as an avenue to carry out an activity more efficiently or to get up to a working surface. The desire to be productive, creative and get something done is human. It’s always better to stand for certain activities, even play. Many kids are motivated to stand to be able to better engage in an activity.

What is true of kids is also true of adults. Some just follow the program, some are motivated by social forces, or change of position “feels good”. Sometimes adults can just articulate better. Some adults are looking for the medical benefits or a specific medical benefit that standing provides. “If I get in my stander every day my spasticity is not as bad.” (A clear medical benefit!)

Many adult EasyStand users have appreciated the functional benefit that the EasyStand provides. Doing an activity better or more comfortably is their motivation for standing. Standing is the means to an end. Shooting a riffle, cooking, painting, whatever…

Some people tell me they stand for very specific reasons, like “my back feels better when I can stretch it. Changing my position feels good.” Or “hey I can see out my kitchen window, I always liked this view!” One young man told me recently “The ladies like it…that’s why I do it!” Probably the oldest motivation of them all.

Well this has taken me a while to write and my concentration level is gone. Just like in the window seat my urge to stand up, stretch, and go get a cup of coffee or see what my co-workers are up to is pretty strong. This time there is nothing standing in my way.

What drives you to stand? What reasons have your clients (kids or adults) chosen to take part in a standing program?  Please share your experiences and insight below.

Photo courtesy

Ed stands taller than his PT, Allan Miller, in the EasyStand StrapStand.

During the time I spend traveling out in the field, I meet some dynamic people with great stories to share. Like Ed, a talkative, friendly guy who lives with his mother, Julia, in a very pretty part of Northern Ohio.  They have a large property so Ed likes to sit by the window and comment on what birds are at the feeder or what the neighbors are up to.

When Ed was 24 he sustained a head injury that prevents him from walking independently, because of poor balance and tightness in his legs. Both his hands are tight as well, especially his right hand.

Ed and Allan Miller, his Homecare Physical Therapist, have developed a strong relationship (although they make an odd pair because Allen is about 5’7″ and Ed is 6’2″).   One of Allan’s goals for Ed is to use the StrapStand to stand up by the window everyday, independently (without his mom’s assistance).  They have accomplished this with surprising ease and do it consistently!

Allan’s long-term standing program goals for Ed are to improve Ed’s balance, strengthen his leg muscles and decrease the tightness in his legs. They are also hoping that standing will encourage Ed to work with projects that will help his hands gain more  function and coordination.

When Ed first stood up he was apprehensive and fearful. He expressed this as a small flash of anger. But once he was standing for a few minutes, he enjoyed the feeling of standing securely, and loves his new expanded view of the back yard!

Has standing changed your view? Maybe not just how you physically view the world, but in other noticeable ways?

As Andy journeys across the Eastern US as Regional Sales Manager, he hears many different stories from EasyStand customers. Here is one story about Yvonne and how she uses her EasyStand at work.

Yvonne's sitting posture is not ideal for working.

When Yvonne stands up, she can breathe and talk better.

Yvonne’s smile lights up the South Center Sheltered Workshop. The staff and clients seem to enjoy the work and look like they are having fun doing it. Although everyone is treated the same, many people say that Yvonne is a teachers pet, because she is frequently laughing, joking and smiling.

Yvonne has Cerebral Palsy and uses a wheelchair for mobility.  When she sits in her wheelchair, she has difficulty working and holding her head up, because of the curve in her spine when she is sitting. It’s also hard to hear her talk and more difficult for her to catch a full breath.

But when Yvonne is standing, it’s easier for her to hold her head up, speak and breathe. She stands in an EasyStand Evolv stander with a Swing-Away Front. This makes it easier for staff to help her into the stander, using a standing pivot transfer. Karen Noftsinger, Yvonne’s Physical Therapist, likes the way Yvonne stands more erect and expects she will get straighter as she has more time in the stander. Julia Montgomery, the trainer that works with Yvonne, said that standing frees up her arms and hands to work more efficiently, with better head control to see what she is doing.

Work can improve a person’s self-esteem, as well as standing, so they make a good combination.

What do you think? Do you or someone you know use a stander at work? Do you find it easier to do certain tasks while standing versus sitting? Please leave us your comments below.

Two great articles recently came out in Rehab Management Magazine and Mobility Management Magazine that I want to share.

“The Need to Stand” by Lauren Rosen, PT, MPT, ATP. 
Rehab Management. January, 2010.
Lauren is the Motion Analysis program coordinator for St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Tampa, Florida.  For years, Lauren has been in the forefront of helping to educate her clients and peers about the benefits of standing and how to find the stander to best fit a client’s needs.   “The Need to Stand” article pulls together the research on standing, types of standers, contraindications,  funding and more.

“The ‘Other’ Benefits of Proper Positioning” by Laurie Watanabe.
Mobility Management. March 2010.
Achieving functional posture can impact your client’s life.  Laurie interviews experts from Varilite, Altimate Medical Inc., Otto Bock and more to find out how proper seating posture can effect respiration and digestion, as well as social, emotional, and cognitive growth. The article also provides “action items” to consider during seating and mobility evaluations.

Educators are finding that children that have physical activity at school on a regular basis, have fewer disciplinary problems and have a better concentration in class. Also, some schools are experimenting with tall work tables, where students stand to do their school work. This is proving to be effective for students with learning difficulties and attention deficit disorders because they are able to work more effectively, alleviate their restlessness, and concentrate on their work.

The children who use wheelchairs also need to stand periodically throughout the day to help them learn, play and develop their minds to prepare for adulthood. Standing frequently can help a child either bring about alertness and engagement, for the child that is lethargic, or can help the child that is hyperactive to release energy and be able to focus more effectively. Also, standing can sometimes help children see better by improving their visual field or line of sight, and to bring them up closer to more engaging activities. Lately, researchers are recognizing how important play activity is to the normal development of children, and sadly many children that have disabilities have limited access to these opportunities. Standing can help them with better head control, improve motor skills and position them to bring about better play opportunities, often with their peers for better interaction, which is so important.

As we know, you cannot talk about the mind, without talking about the body, and visa-versa. So if a student is in pain, is unable to move their bowels or not able to breathe freely, they are not able to concentrate in school. Hopefully, if they can stand on regular basis, improving the detrimental effects of a sedentary position, they can alleviate some of their physical problems, as well as stand up to facilitate the learning experience.

Andy is presenting a seminar called “Don’t Just Sit There… ” in twenty locations throughout 2010. For the schedule and more information, visit www.easystand.com/smart.

What have you noticed with your kids?  Do you think physical activity and movement affect their alertness and school work?

The hamstring muscles are very important muscles for running and walking because they pull our legs back in flexion. The hamstrings (posterior thigh muscles) are made up of three long muscles that start at the bottom of your pelvis extending down the back of your thigh and along either side of your knee, to your shin bones.

If a person is confined to a wheelchair and the muscles are shortened, they pull the lower leg back under the pelvic, and will pull the upper body back. So a person will have more problems straightening out their legs and will have problems leaning forward to bend their hips. This becomes a great problem with wheelchair seating and positioning, because the knees and hips will lose range of motion and the person will sit poorly, increasing the risk for pressure sores and skeletal deformities, creating pain and diminishing the quality of life.

A very encouraging article was publish recently in the International Journal of Rehabilitation, December 2009 where five non-ambulatory children with Cerebral Palsy were put in standing frames for one hour, five days a week, showing significantly lengthened hamstrings over the six week period. They also concluded that they expected to see greater lengthening of the hamstrings or straightening of the legs and better hip ROM, if the children stood for longer times and had consistent standing programs into the future.

Find abstracts for this article “The use of standing frames for contracture management for nonmobile children with cerebral palsy” and other related research studies.

Has standing helped reduces contractures in your child with Cerebral Palsy?  Are you a therapist that found this research study helpful?

Photo Courtesy: Mr. Thomas

When it comes to good health for people with spinal cord injuries there are several basic needs in my mind.  A good bathroom routine, daily mental stimulation and a good regimen of exercise, whatever that means to each individual, are a good start.  For me, a T-12 paraplegic, that means getting to the gym at least twice per week and supplementing my gym time with hand cycling, golfing, skiing, and whatever outdoor activities I can find.  But to make this all possible, stretching is what keeps me going.  If I didn’t keep my legs stretched and limber, they would tighten up into a bent knee position that is nearly impossible to get rid of.  And this would make my very active lifestyle a lot more difficult to manage.  If it wasn’t for my EasyStand, stretching might cost me a lot of time and money at the physical therapist’s office.  But now I can simply stand in my living room and watch TV or stand in my office while I am working.  And in addition to taking calcium supplements, I depend on standing to help strengthen my bone density as well so there is less chance of breaking any of my already brittle bones while I am out adventuring.  So I consider my EasyStand part of my daily routine in hopes of staying healthier longer.

What activities do you do to stay healthy? What are the most important steps to take in maintaining a healthy lifestyle?

In 2009 we celebrated EasyStand’s 20th Birthday, we felt that an important part of this milestone was to share some stories of customers who have been standing for several years.

A few weeks later, I received a story from Mike Savicki, a quadriplegic and veteran who has been standing for over 18 years!  How perfect, I thought.  Mike has such a great philosophy on life and a strong drive to succeed.  He uses his EasyStand standing frame as part of his healthy dedication to staying physically fit. Mike explains how standing fits into his training, “I’m a pretty dedicated athlete and see the crossover benefits of standing in sports such as marathoning, hand-cycling and swimming. My muscles stay stretched and loose and the added benefits of a stronger heart aids in my quickness and endurance. Standing is as much a part of my training as weights, cardio, stretching, diet and nutrition.”

Read Mike Savicki’s Customer Story

In what ways can you relate to Mike’s story? What are your reasons for standing?

Meet Hope, a little girl with big spirits. Hope has a rare genetic disease called Opitz C Syndrome, but she doesn’t let that slow her down. She stands in the EasyStand Bantam to maintain and improve her range of motion and keep her on track for walking.