Standing Frame
A standing frame, also referred to as a stand, stander, standing technology,
standing aid, standing device, standing box, or tilt table, is assistive
technology utilized by individuals reliant on wheelchairs for mobility. It
offers an alternative position to sitting by supporting the person in a
standing posture.
Various types of standers are available, including sit-to-stand, prone,
supine, upright, multi-positioning standers, and standing wheelchairs.
Although long leg braces are also considered standing devices, they are less
commonly used today.
There are three main categories of standers:
•
Passive (static) stander: Remains stationary and may have casters but cannot
be self-propelled.
•
Mobile (dynamic) stander: Can be self-propelled by the user if they have
sufficient strength, and some are available with powered mobility.
•
Active stander: Facilitates reciprocal movement of the arms and legs while
in a standing position.
Standers cater to individuals with mild to severe disabilities such as
spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, spina bifida,
muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, Rett syndrome, and
post-polio syndrome. They are suitable for both paraplegia and quadriplegia,
offering a range of support options to accommodate varying degrees of
disability.
Former NFL players Doug Betters and Mike Utley, both quadriplegics due to
spinal cord injury, utilize active standers for standing.
Therapeutic standing, a weight-bearing intervention achievable with a
standing frame, has traditionally been included in rehabilitation programs
for individuals with chronic spinal cord injury to prevent osteoporosis, a
common consequence of such injuries. However, research on the effectiveness
of therapeutic standing has yielded conflicting results. While therapeutic
standing during the chronic phase of injury (defined as one year
post-injury) shows no effect on maintaining bone density, shorter and less
aggressive interventions during the first year post-injury appear to be less
effective. Incorporating more aggressive therapeutic standing during the
early stages of injury may yield beneficial impacts on bone mineral density,
if any.
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