How is standing done?
Author: SCIRE Community Team | Reviewer: Darryl Caves | Published: 17 January 2018 | Updated: ~
Once appropriate equipment and strategies for standing are selected with assistance from a health provider, standing is gradually introduced over time. The amount of time spent standing, the amount of load that is taken through the legs, and the final standing position will be adjusted until a suitable standing position can be maintained. During these first several sessions, health providers will monitor for any adverse effects related to the treatment.
Standing and stepping activities may be combined to optimize therapy.5
Current research findings are unable to tell us how long or how often standing should be done to have benefits. Studies have used standing for 20 to 60 minutes, three to four times per week to study the effects of this treatment. It will be different for everyone. The standing prescription will be based on the person’s unique situation.
Depending on the treatment goals, standing may also involve:
- Adding extra weight while standing
- Using standing together with functional electrical stimulation (FES) to activate the muscles of the legs and/or trunk
- Weight-shifting, balance or stepping activities
