Health Benefits of Standing

Individuals who rely on a wheelchair for mobility should also look to a standing device or standing frame as a way prevent the secondary complications that often result from prolonged use of a wheelchair. 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.

Medical Benefits of Standing

Passive standing 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:

1. Prevention of contractures (ankles, knees, and hips)
2. Improvement 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 Integrity
11. Develop or improve motor skills
12. Maintain or re-gain bone density

Other specific reasons that people stand include:

• Facilitation of a natural symmetrical standing posture
• Development and improvement of upper body balance and strength
• Alleviation of pain caused by prolonged or inappropriate position
• Development of standing tolerance and endurance
• Lessening progressive scoliosis
• Assisting with skeletal development (in children)

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:

• Stimulate play
• Increase independence & self-image
• 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
• Increase 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