Kids who rely on a wheelchair for mobility should also have an opportunity to change positions throughout the day. A standing program is a way to prevent secondary complications that often result from prolonged use of a wheelchair or immobilization. For years physicians and therapists have recommended assisted standing for a variety of medical and health benefits that occur when maintaining a natural standing posture. However; in addition to the physiological health benefits, many people also experience significant psychological benefits from being in the upright standing position, such as improved self-esteem and social development.
Many of these health and physiological benefits of standing are listed below. Or you can review any of the clinical case studies, articles, and research studies found on additional pages for further assisted standing benefits and information.
Medical Benefits of Standing
Standing/weight bearing has been demonstrated to prevent, reverse, or improve many of the adverse effects of prolonged immobilization.
The most widely accepted medical benefits of standing include:
Kids can stand to prevent secondary complications of using a wheelchair.
1. Prevention of contractures (ankles, knees, and hips)
2. Improvement of maintenance of range of motion (spine, hips, knees and ankles)
3. Reduction in spasticity
4. Prevention or reversal of osteoporosis and resultant hypercalciuria
5. Improvement of renal function, drainage of the urinary tract, and reduction in urinary calculi
6. Prevention of pressure ulcers through changing positions
7. Improvement in circulation as it related to orthostatic hypotension
8. Improvement in bowel function
9. Normalization of respiratory function
10. Improve Hip IntegrityDevelop or improve motor skills
11. Maintain or re-gain bone density
Psychological Benefits of Standing
Although funding sources rarely recognize the psychological benefits of standing, they can be some of the most important reasons to stand, especially for kids. Clinicians, parents, and EasyStand users also recommend standing for the psychological benefits, including:
Standing provides kids with social benefits as well as phyical benefits.
-Stimulate Play
-Being active and mobile while standing
-Be more alert
-Increase cognition
-Enhance social development & interactions with peers
-Participate in activities that are meant to do standing up
-Better positioning for activities of daily living
-Be more vocal & responsive
-Look peers in the eye
-Give & get hugs easier
-Encourage inclusion in school
-Decrease fatigue from inactivity
-Help prevent depression
-Increase Independence & self-image
For information on the EasyStand Bantam pediatric stander for children, and all the physical, psychosocial, and cognitive benefits, goto www.easystand.com/bantam.
