Beyond Rehab and Physio: Other Uses for Standing Frames

Standing frames are often associated with physiotherapy and rehabilitation, and for good reason: they’re a valuable tool that health professionals often use to help both children and adults recover from injuries, helping them regain complete mobility once again.

But this isn’t all that standing frames are used for. Their list of potential use cases and benefits extends far beyond physiotherapy and rehabilitation. From helping children with disabilities gain independence to improving the mental health of patients with life-changing spinal injuries, standing frames have transformed the lives of thousands of people across the globe – and continue to do so on a daily basis.

In this blog, we’re going to talk about some of the most popular uses and benefits of standing frames outside of rehabilitation and physiotherapy, giving you a clear picture of just how versatile these devices are.

Children with conditions like Down’s Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and Spina Bifida face immense challenges. Often, their development is hindered dramatically because they’re unable to bear weight and walk around on their own, not only limiting their physical strength but impacting their social skills and overall wellbeing too.

Our selection of standing frames can make all the difference in cases like these. Even if the child is never going to be able to stand on their own, a standing frame allows them to gain independence and engage with their peers far more easily, making a tremendous difference in their formative years.

As we touched on earlier, the benefits of standing frames aren’t solely physical. Using one can make a real difference to a patient’s mental health too, making it easier for them to socialise with others and enjoy the freedom that comes with being able to stand and move around.

Again, even if someone will never be able to stand independently, using a standing frame can help reduce their likelihood of experiencing mental health issues. 

As well as improving an individual’s muscle strength, the use of a standing frame can help boost bowel and bladder function too. The explanation behind this is simple: when you stand upright, gravity helps both the bowel and bladder do their job more effectively, improving regularity and reducing the risk of infections and constipation.

If someone is unable to bear weight on their own, their bone density will gradually reduce over time. That is unless they have a standing frame at their disposal. With the help of a frame, bone density can return to a healthy level, massively reducing the likelihood of the individual contracting a condition like osteoporosis or osteopenia.

We’re all familiar with the importance of circulation – and it’s no secret that too much time spent sitting down can have a dramatic impact on this. A standing frame promotes healthy circulation, helping the individual regulate their blood pressure more effectively. As a result, heart health is improved and any swelling in the legs and feet gradually reduces.

If someone is unable to stand on their own, this not only impacts their muscle strength and bone density, but their fine motor skills. As a consequence, this can impact their independence, limiting their ability to complete day to day tasks and increasing their reliance on carers and health professionals. Standing frames can help in this regard.

This one applies particularly to children. If a child is unable to stand, their breathing and speaking abilities can be impacted, simply because opening the diaphragm is more difficult in a seated position. Spending time in a standing frame not only improves their respiratory function, but also allows them to control their voice more effectively, making it easier for them to communicate with others.

Other common issues experienced by wheelchair users include soreness and poor skin health. A standing frame can help combat these problems, improving the condition of an individual’s skin markedly.

The reason behind this is simple: when we stand, oxygenated blood can circulate around the body far more easily than when we sit, reaching areas of skin that it normally can’t. Couple this with reduced skin-to-skin contact and the result is reduced soreness and more healthy skin.

As you can see, standing frames are incredibly versatile pieces of equipment – but none are more versatile than those from EasyStand. Products like the Evolv and Strapstand are highly advanced, highly customisable and built with independence in mind, allowing the user to make the most of every second they spend standing and live life to the fullest.