For an able-bodied individual, weight-bearing activities and vigorous exercise are associated with an increase in
bone mineral density (BMD)
when carried out for at least 1 hour per day and 4-5 days per week.
Clinical Recommendations
Standing wheelchairs promote weight bearing (75% of body weight) comparable to those of other standing devices. Yang et al. 2014
This amount of load redistribution changing from sitting to standing implies that there is the potential to improve bone health.
Power Standing Wheelchairs
Conclusions from systematic reviews on the evidence of standing with different devices reported on studies that showed either maintenance or improvements in BMD. Glickman, Geigle, and Paleg 2010; Newman and Barker 2012; Paleg and Livingstone 2015
The majority of participants demonstrated a stable bone mineral density at one-year follow up Townsend et al. 2016
User Benefits
A power standing wheelchair could have a perceived positive impact on bone health and reduce the rate of loss of BMD.
1. Perceived positive impact on bone health
The effect of standing may be impacted by the dose of standing; that is, the amount of standing per day; whether someone has reported to start early after injury; and whether someone has been standing for longer periods of time
This is supported by the Permobil standing survey results, which suggest that those who use power standing frequently are more likely to perceive a positive impact on bone health; whereas those who do not stand often and for longer time periods are more likely to perceive an unfavourable impact
2. Reduced rate of loss of BMD
For an able-bodied individual, weight bearing and vigorous exercise is associated with an increase in bone mineral density (BMD)
The loss of weight-bearing activities such as standing can increase the speed at which the density of the bone decreases
