How do the benefits of standing compare to the benefits of tilt and recline wheelchairs?
This is a case by case answer. But usually the main benefits to tilting someone in their wheelchair are: weight shift to alleviate pressure off the ischial tuberosities and aiding in head control and body position and help with fatigue. But the disadvantage can be urine retention, contractures in the lower extremities and a limitation in sensory stimulation. Standing, on the other hand has many documented health benefits such as, breaking up the person’s sitting posture with passive ROM, this can help maintain a good lordotic curve in the spine resulting in better head control and expanding the chest for greater lung capacity. Read the “Is Standing the New Tilt?” blog post by Andy Hicks to dig deeper.
