Wheelchairs are an excellent investment with several benefits. They provide a renewed sense of independence and allow you the freedom of mobility. However, a traditional wheelchair will keep the patient in a seated position majority of the time. Unfortunately, this can lead to several adverse side effects on their health.
Standing wheelchairs have been introduced as a new way to offer freedom and mobility to those who need help. The standing feature will keep you in an upright position. This can solve many different consequences associated with seated wheelchairs. We will discuss ten benefits of standing wheelchairs.
Standing Wheelchair Benefits
You'll want to be informed if you are in the market for a wheelchair. We will provide the information you’ll need to decide between a standing and seated wheelchair. Firstly, we will discuss what they are used for and who can benefit from either a power or manual standing wheelchair.
What They Are Used for
Amit Goffer, a quadriplegic, first invented the standing wheelchair. Amit wanted the ability to stand up following an accident that left him paralyzed in 1997. These wheelchairs provide pressure relief by supporting an upright position. These wheelchairs allow people to interact with others at eye level.
Standing wheelchairs can be manual or powered. A manual standing wheelchair refers to a chair without powering the standing mechanisms. This rivals the power standing wheelchair. The power wheelchair uses powered lifting mechanisms and hydraulics to assist with standing. Both manual and power chairs provide the same end goal. However, they will differ in price and capabilities.
Who Uses Them?
Many people can benefit from standing wheelchairs. Most often, those who have severe disabilities will use them. This may include patients that suffer from:
- Spina bifida
- Spinal cord injury
- Muscular dystrophy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Traumatic brain injury
- Stroke
- Rett syndrome
- Severe skeletal deformities
- Postural hypotension
- Contracture deformity
- Osteoporosis
10 Benefits of Standing Wheelchairs
Now we will get into the many benefits of standing powerchairs. These products can help many systems function better. This includes the spine, circulatory system, and respiratory system. We will share ten top benefits of standing wheelchairs, such as the Karman standing wheelchair.
These benefits include:
1. Improved Respiratory Function
Minimized breathing or poor lung inflation can be incredibly uncomfortable. After all, our entire body needs oxygen to thrive.
Sitting down can actually harm breathing. Over time, seated wheelchairs can cause pressure on the upper body. This will suppress regular, healthy breathing. This can lead to a poor floor of oxygen to the entire body, such as organs. As a result, patients may complain of exhaustion, discomfort, or difficulty breathing. This is highly uncomfortable and can cause long-term side effects.
Standing wheelchairs allow the patient to stand up. This elongates the body structures and minimizes the impact on the organs and spine. This causes oxygen to disperse properly throughout the body. This can have a significant impact on quality of life and comfort levels.
2. Enhanced Bowel Function
The ability to dispense waste properly is critical. The digestive system must be able to digest and expel food to keep the entire system performing correctly. When a patient is constantly sitting, pressure is put on the digestive system. This can make the whole process difficult to complete.
Consequences of poor bowel function can result in:
- Hemorrhoids
- Anal fissures
- Back pain
- Poor appetite
- Discomfort
Not having proper bowel function can lead to some long-term, severe side effects. By standing, the entire digestive system will be stretched out. This will help your body properly digest and dispose of waste.
3. Enhanced Bladder Function
Similarly to bowel function, bladder function requires some gravity to perform efficiently. You can suffer from many ailments by not excreting waste through the bladder. Some of the most common consequences include the following:
- Urinary tract infections
- Kidney damage
- Blood in urine
- Kidney stones
In fact, by having poor bladder function, you can suffer from kidney damage. This is a grave medical concern that can be life-threatening. With seated wheelchairs, the urine may not be able to drain effectively. Avoiding this is important for enhanced bladder function.
With a standing wheelchair, you can extend the entire urinary tract. This will allow it to function as it should. You'll once again be able to dispose of the urinary waste.
4. Safer Transfers
Transferring patients from their wheelchairs to their beds is essential for many care facilities. This task can be extremely difficult for medical personnel. This is especially true with seated wheelchairs. Caregivers can struggle to transfer the patient between different positions efficiently.
With a standing wheelchair, half of the battle is already taken care of. The patient will conveniently be standing. The caregiver has to move the patient from an upright position to a lying position in their bed. This rivals a seated wheelchair, where the caregiver must first help the patient stand.
Some wheelchairs even have a powerful mechanism that can help with effective transfers. Safer transfers lead to improved safety and comfort for the patient.
5. Independence
One of the best benefits of any mobility device is improved independence. It can be difficult to rely on other people. A product that assists in mobility can help regain a sense of freedom. Furthermore, it provides independence. However, seated wheelchairs do have their limitations.
A standing wheelchair can help a patient feel more comfortable. It can also allow them to maneuver more easily. There are often fewer adaptations a home will need with a standing wheelchair. Furthermore, a caretaker has fewer tasks to accomplish compared to a seated chair.
Many patients report that having some independence back is essential. It can be a huge contributor to their mental health. This in itself is often a good enough reason to invest.
6. Improved Circulation
Having adequate circulation and blood flow is essential. The circulatory system is responsible for maintaining the health of your entire body. Furthermore, it coincides with the respiratory system. The circulatory system and respiratory system will both perform better when its counterpart is effective.
Blood can begin to pool when you are in one position for too long. This can lead to discomfort and other side effects. Having a circulatory system that effectively transports blood is essential. This will help minimize the risk of thrombosis.
By changing posture and mobility, your circulatory system will spread oxygen and blood more effectively throughout the body.
7. Improved Bone Health
The ability to hold our weight actually improves bone density. Standing acts as an exercise for the bones. This small task results in strong bones that are resilient.
When a patient is constantly seated, no weight is ever put on the majority of the bones. This can result in the bones becoming more fragile. Poor bone density can lead to:
- Fractures
- Osteoporosis
- Bone deformities
Keeping bone density high is essential for a healthy skeletal system. To improve bone density, you just have to stand. The pressure on the bones will keep them strong. A standing wheelchair can help provide the weight and pressure to improve bone density.
8. Minimized Risk of Ulcers
Being in one position for an extended time will cause too much pressure on the skin. This can result in ulcers on the backbone, coccyx, and shoulder blades. Ulcers are excruciating and can be debilitating. They can be challenging to treat and may even lead to infection.
The risk of ulcers increases when you are constantly putting pressure on the same area. This is why they are common with seated wheelchairs. By standing, you will relieve the stress in certain regions. This will help circulation and reduce the risk of ulcers.
9. Reduced Spasticity
Tension in specific muscles can result in spasticity. Spasticity leads to rigidity or contractures due to muscles bunching up in one area. This can be incredibly painful. Spasms can be difficult to control and hard to function with.
A standing wheelchair will reduce spasticity and stretch the muscles. It will minimize the tension in certain areas of the body. This will help comfort levels and quality of life.
10. Improved Social Life
For abled people, it is a luxury to constantly talk at eye level with others. Having a conversation at someone else's waist can feel limiting for many people who cannot stand on their own. This can feel as though it damages or challenges their social life.
A standing wheelchair allows the same ability for those with limited mobility. You would now be able to hold conversations and function at the same height as the average person. This can result in feeling as though your social life has improved.
Conclusion
If you want to invest in a standing wheelchair, you'd be impressed with the number of benefits that come with it. Some wheelchairs, such as power standing wheelchairs, can even offer the opportunity to sit or stand. Hydraulics are used to move the patient in either position, depending on their preference. This can improve social life, maximize health, and provide a sense of independence and freedom. Though wheelchairs can be pricey, they are worth the investment for a happier and healthier individual.