The Different Types of Standers
Supportive standing is an essential aspect in the development of children with complex physical disabilities, with on-time intervention available from as young as 9-12 months of age, which offers crucial support in postural development. For many young people, reduced motor skills and the inability to meet eye level with peers can establish barriers beyond their control. However, there are many different variants of standers, which can provide indispensable specific requirements depending on the needs of the individual.
Why is Standing Important?
As the body changes and adapts, the importance of standing grows more paramount in order to develop necessary muscle growth, bone density and confidence.
Promotes Bone Density
Maintaining weight-bearing positions encourages bone development and strength to help diminish the risk of fractures, alongside a maintained range of motion and reduced spasticity.
Encourages Hip Development
Within early developmental years, the formation of typical and stable hip joints is essential for standing and mobilising. Hip stability is important for function and comfort, offering support where necessary during manual handling.
Digestive Support
By maintaining an upright position, the digestive system can work efficiently through the aid of gravity and the activation of stomach muscles.
Postural Alignment
Supportive standing frames are excellent at improving postural alignment and control, reducing postural asymmetry, stiffness and improving postural ability.
Social Interaction
The ability to stand enhances confidence and self-esteem through eye-level engagement with peers, allowing children to partake in tasks with increased independence.
Respiratory Function
Standing improves lung capacity and aids diaphragm function, allowing more room to breathe in and out deeply while establishing greater voice control.
Standing frames offer a plethora of benefits that are fully adjustable and can often integrate with removable accessories, depending on the manufacturer and the individual needs of the user. This is applicable across the various supportive standers available on the market.
Supine Stander
Supine standers are excellent at providing stability for users who require additional support for the head, neck and trunk, especially when assisting individuals in gradually transitioning from a lying to an upright position. Many supine standers can be fully accessible and are particularly beneficial in supporting more complex postures and enhancing the quality of life.
Key Benefits of Supine Standers:
- Supports individuals from lying down to gradual upright positioning.
- Reduces strain on caregivers during transfers.
- Provides full postural support for users with minimal muscle control.
- Back (posterior) and lateral support.
- Available in a varying range of tilt angles.
- Some standers can feature battery operation and backup power.
Prone Stander
Prone standers provide exceptional support and control for users who already have some head and trunk control and would benefit from an anterior position. Due to the forward-leaning support, the user can continue to develop their head and neck motor skills while engaging key muscle groups. Some systems can accommodate activity trays for additional anterior support for developing confidence.
Key Benefits of Prone Standers:
- Encourages active participation between users and peers.
- Promotes more active weight-bearing activity to improve bone density and joint health.
- Available in varying tilt ranges to stretch areas of tight musculature, such as the hip flexors.
- The range of motion within feet, knees and hip joints can greatly improve.
- Promote trunk extension, proven to reduce spasticity.
Multistander
Multistanders are most suitable for individuals who require flexibility between prone and supine positioning within a single unit. This provides the necessary postural support during different growth cycles of an individual where their needs may shift over time. Multistanders are beneficial in aiding physiotherapists and carers with the ability to adjust positioning when and as required across the varying types of standers.
Key Benefits of Multistanders:
- Provides adjustable therapy support over long-term plans.
- Modular design to encourage skill development.
- Evolves with the user over time.
- Accommodates both prone (anterior) and supine (posterior) positioning.
- Systems offer varying height and tilt adjustments to meet different life stages and abilities.
Sit-to-Stand Standers
This particular stander is an assistive standing device which safely transitions individuals from a seated, standing and supine position within one system. The equipment encourages weight-bearing activities by helping children or adults to develop endurance over time, all within a modular and comfortable design. A sit-to-stand frame is also beneficial for individuals who are recovering from long-term health implications, such as stroke, spinal cord injuries, or for accommodating lower limb contractures.
Key Benefits of Sit-to-Stand Frames:
- Encourages movement and makes standing more accessible.
- Adaptable designs for ease of transition.
- Develop a greater range of motion.
- A sling sit-to-stander positions straps behind an individual’s hips, back and legs for hoisting assistance to a standing position. Both seated and sling sit-to-stander frames are suitable for users with good trunk and head control.
How to Choose the Right Supportive Stander?
When selecting the right supporting standing frame, the individual needs of the user must be considered across the entire process. It’s imperative to obtain an assessment from a qualified healthcare professional who will be able to provide personalised recommendations and guidance on the appropriate accessories and specifications for each individual. Considerations for supportive standers can be broken down into several elements, including:
What is the level of support required?
Consider the ability of the user. Think about the level of support they require in lying and sitting and how they will transfer. It’s important to understand if the user requires full-body support or anterior/posterior positioning.
What are the User’s Goals?
Think about the user’s specific goals and how the standing frame design can support this. For example, if a child’s goal is to stand and play with their friends, does the frame encourage eye-level engagement?
Will the Stander Grow with the User?
Children grow rapidly, and it’s important to consider if the stander can accommodate their growth and if the correct size has been chosen for future considerations.
How Functional is the Stander?
Carers should be able to operate the standing frames and transition users with ease because standing should be made simple!
Hear Their Stories
Zain’s story – From first standing cuddles with mum to being at the correct height to work & play. Read Here
Meet Madison – Madison is a happy, smiley, and content 2-year-old from Manchester, UK. Read Here
Introducing Ju-Li – We would like to introduce you to Ju-Li, Ju-Li is 21 years old and lives in an adult residential care home. Read Here
Support for Life with Our Standing Frames
Standing frames play a crucial role in enhancing mobility, supporting posture, bone density, and social skill development for all individuals with complex disabilities or limited motor skills. At Jiraffe, we design standers that are created for 24-hour postural care from infancy to adulthood, with functionality for carers and physiotherapists in mind.
Choosing the right standing frame for the user is essential to provide the most successful outcomes for the individual, which is why we actively encourage demonstrations and provide thorough professional guidance upon request. To discover the maximum benefits, accessories, and long-term advantages of Jiraffe by Jenx standing frames, book a demo or contact a member of our team today.