Several factors may decrease a person’s ROM, such as joint inflammation, paralysis of the muscles acting across the joint, or spasticity. When these factors are present, the muscles can shorten and cause a contracture.
Clinical Recommendations
When a joint is moved through the full available ROM on a consistent basis, limitations in movement and contractures can be avoided.
Loss of motion can result in a variety of difficulties including pain and discomfort, and limited functional independence.
For those who experience limited standing or walking function, keeping their existing ROM is important to support function and independence.
Power Standing Wheelchairs
A power standing wheelchair can provide a person with movement through their available ROM, and may help increase their range of motion and muscle length.
Increased hip and knee flexor muscle length after power standing Townsend et al. 2016
User Benefits
Users can maintain ROM and muscle length to reduce the risks of pain and discomfort, loss of motion and reduced muscle length, helping them to carry out tasks independently.
1. Retain ROM and muscle length
Individuals who received a power standing wheelchair showed increases in passive range of motion of lower limbs Gholke & Kenyon 2022
A power standing wheelchair can provide movement through the user’s available ROM
2. Reduced pain and discomfort
Retained ROM and the ability to self-reposition can help to reduce pain, pressure and discomfort
3. Maintain independence
Retaining ROM and muscle length provides the user with optimal positioning abilities, enabling them tocomplete self-care tasks and maintain autonomy
