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Use of Prolonged Standing for Individuals With Spinal Cord Injuries

JJ Eng, PT, PhD, is Assistant Professor, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of British Columbia, T325-2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 2B5 (janicee{at}interchange.ubc.ca), and the Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, GF Strong Rehab Centre.
SM Levins, PT, is a graduate student, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of British Columbia
AF Townson, MD, is Physician, Spinal Cord Program, GF Strong Rehab Centre, and Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of British Columbia
D Mah-Jones, OT, MSA, is Clinical Practice Leader, Occupational Therapy, GF Strong Rehab Centre
J Bremner, PT, is Physical Therapist, Spinal Cord Program, GF Strong Rehab Centre
G Huston, PT, is Physical Therapist, Spinal Cord Program, GF Strong Rehab Centre

Address all correspondence to Dr Eng

Background and Purpose. Prolonged standing in people with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) has the potential to affect a number of health-related areas such as reflex activity, joint range of motion, or well-being. The purpose of this study was to document the patterns of use of prolonged standing and their perceived effects in subjects with SCIs. Subjects. The subjects were 152 adults with SCIs (103 male, 49 female; mean age=34 years, SD=8, range=18–55) who returned mailed survey questionnaires. Methods. A 17-item self-report survey questionnaire was sent to the 463 members of a provincial spinal cord support organization. Results. Survey responses for 26 of the 152 respondents were eliminated from the analysis because they had minimal effects from their injuries and did not need prolonged standing as an extra activity. Of the 126 remaining respondents, 38 respondents (30%) reported that they engaged in prolonged standing for an average of 40 minutes per session, 3 to 4 times a week, as a method to improve or maintain their health. The perceived benefits included improvements in several health-related areas such as well-being, circulation, skin integrity, reflex activity, bowel and bladder function, digestion, sleep, pain, and fatigue. The most common reason that prevented the respondents from standing was the cost of equipment to enable standing. Discussion and Conclusion. Considering the many reported benefits of standing, this activity may be useful for people with SCI. This study identified a number of body systems and functions that may need to be investigated if clinical trials of prolonged standing in people with SCI are undertaken.

Key Words: Spinal cord injury • Standing • Weight bearing