Page 24 - Mobility Management, February 2018

ATP Series
Standing
on Principle
By Laurie Watanabe
Comparing & Contrasting
the Functions of Standing Wheelchairs to Standing Frames
s human beings, we are meant to stand. Not exclusively. But
there’s a reason stand-up desks are so popular in today’s of ces,
and why passengers enduring long ights bounce to their feet the moment the pilot turns off the seatbelt sign. Standing does help our bodies to function better in many ways, and thus, standing can make us feel better.
And that fact remains, even for people incapable of standing independently. Those consumers may still be able to stand by using a standing frame or a standing wheelchair. But beyond the
22 FEBRUARY 2018 | MOBILITY MANAGEMENT
obvious — a standing wheelchair drives around, while a standing frame does not — what are the differences in function between the two? Are their functional bene ts different? Are their indications and contraindications different?
Similarities & Distinctions
As with every discussion of complex rehab technology (CRT), this one starts with a disclaimer. Comparing and contrasting standing frames and standing wheelchairs isn’t meant to proclaim which type of product is “better.” Every CRT client is a unique combination of not
just diagnosis and prognosis, but goals, environments, abilities and challenges.
So choosing between standing frame
and standing wheelchair (or choosing a different standing technology; see sidebar) is up to the seating and mobility team,
the client and the caregivers based on the overall picture.
Of course, standing wheelchairs and standing frames have a number of things in common. But perhaps surprisingly, they also differ from each other in a number of ways.
For instance, standing frames and standing wheelchairs have different
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