Clinician Task Force and RESNA Position on the Application of Supported Standing Devices: Current State of the Literature
The Clinician Task Force (CTF) and RESNA have joined forces and published an update to a 2013 RESNA position paper on the application of wheelchair standing devices.
Application of Supported Standing Devices: Current State of the Literature, available for free to the community, expands the previous focus on wheelchair standing devices to all types of supported standing devices. It includes literature from the past 20 years on supported standing in both wheelchair and non-wheelchair based devices. The purpose is to educate and advocate for the appropriate use of standing devices to improve the health and function of people who have difficulty, or are unable to, independently stand for longer periods of time. Clinical reasoning is required to apply the information in this document to unique individual cases.
The scientific literature shows that supported standing programs are an evidence-based strategy to support prevention of comorbidities accrued from prolonged sitting. The use of supported standing devices is well established, and should no longer be considered experimental or a convenience. Third party payors should fund supported standing devices that are and are not incorporated into a mobility device, to ensure access to appropriate supported standing equipment that is specific to the beneficiary’s needs.
A RESNA Position Paper presents the official statement stance of the Association on a substantive issue or subject related to best-practice trends in assistive technology (AT). Position papers are developed in response to a particular issue, concern, or need of the Association and may be written for internal or external use. These papers are science-driven and reflect evidence-based practice in assistive technology. All RESNA position papers, including this one in partnership with CTF, follow a prescribed procedure during their development to ensure that there is input from the broader AT community.
The paper is available for no charge to the community on the RESNA website, www.resna.org. Visit the RESNA Store and search by title (or click on the link), create an account or login to the RESNA website to purchase the free paper.
