compliance

Hi! My name is Ginny Paleg and I am a pediatric physical therapist in Maryland. My specialty is getting children with severe gross motor dysfunction (GMFCS Level IV and V) to take steps in gait trainers. To get to this goal, I use passive standing, body weight supported gait therapy over a treadmill, and am investigating passive/assisted cycling and vibration platforms. My “dissertation” (final project for my DScPT) was a systematic review on passive standing and a webinar presenting what I found. I sorted the articles by level of evidence, clinical outcomes, diagnosis, type of stander, and length of standing time.

I hope the flow charts can help folks decide how long to stand, which type of standing device to use, typical complications of standing, as well as appropriate measurable attainable clinical goals of standing. I included research studies on standing combined with oscillation, vibration, electrical stimulation and exercise programs.

Check out my Supported Standing webinar and other supporting materials, such as the Synthesized Literature Review on Standing Therapy (PDF) on the EasyStand website. I hope you find this information useful. I would appreciate feedback, questions and/or comments!

Goto www.easystand.com/ginny to see the Free Webinar on Standing Therapy!

I’ve had my standing frame for over a decade. I think I received it in 1994, but it’s been so long now I can barely remember. The exact date I got my standing frame is besides the point though. The worthwhile thing to blog about? The fact that my standing frame, an EasyStand 2400, still works as good as the day I got it. Now that’s something to write home about.

It can be a chore (at least for me) to work standing into my everyday, stressful schedule. As a freelance writer, a C6 quad, and someone who depends on PCA’s everyday (and does her own staffing to boot) my life is chock full of things that need to be taken care of. Taking a break from everything and putting things on hold as I stand for a 1/2 hour can feel counterproductive.

But at the heart of things I know it isn’t. In fact, after I stand I feel happier and ready to take on the day. Knowing my body is still able to stand is a huge ego-boost. Sounds silly, I know, but it’s the truth. So over the years I’ve learned how to multitask while standing. Just look at this pic taken this morning of me working on my laptop and drinking my morning coffee, all while I stand:

Here I am, drinking coffee and working on my laptop while standing in my EasyStand.

So in conclusion, it’s just a matter of life organization, in re: to working your stander into your life. It may feel like your dragging your sorry butt to the gym on a day you’d rather be in bed sleeping, but take it from me, it’ll still feel worth it when you’re done; and you’ll be very glad you did it. It’s a more-than-beneficial work-out.

I’m very lucky to have my standing frame, even if it’s over 10 years old. A standing frame may cost x number of dollars, but being able to stand? Priceless.