Benefits of Standing during Spinal Cord Injury Recovery

A spinal cord injury (SCI) causes damage to the spinal cord and may impair mobility. Restriction to mobility may present a number of health issues. Standing confers multiple social and medical benefits after a spinal cord injury. It improves the physiological functioning, digestive and cardiovascular system. Additionally, it also has an influence on the psychological health of a person.

Upright positioning is important in countering health problems and complications after an injury. To tackle the mobility hiccup, it is essential to undertake a daily therapy routine that aids in blood circulation, muscle stretching, respiration, healthy skin maintenance, and improved digestion.

With the use of existing technology, functional and therapeutic standing for spinal-cord injury patients is now easier. The use of special mobility aids has helped patients achieve a healthy functional life.

Benefits of Standing during Spinal Cord Injury Recovery

Increased Bone Density

Standing helps to improve the general health condition of the patient. It decreases bone osteoporosis, a condition where bones become very fragile, lose their density, and increase chances to fracture. Weight bearing maintains bone mineral intensity by providing sufficient mechanical loads and remarkably decreasing the risks associated with osteoporosis. Regular standing also offloads the pressure points.

Improved Circulation

Limited mobility and prolonged sitting restrict the supply of blood to some body parts. Undertaking a regular standing program enhances blood circulation and maintains normal heart rate and blood pressure. It reduces orthostatic hypotension in the feet and legs.

Improved Respiration

The diaphragm has limited space when someone is seated. When standing, it gets more room for expansion and contraction to make breathing in and out easy and effective. It improves the performance of respiratory organs and cardiovascular systems. Standing decreases the pressure applied to the internal organs. This helps to strengthen the lungs and ultimately improve the voice and volume control by making it louder and stronger.

Promotes Healthy Skin

Standing helps to maintain skin integrity. It does this by allowing blood to reach the tissues that are subjected to pressure in a sitting position. Therefore, weight-bearing promotes skin health and reduces the chances of pressure sores by relieving pressure on these areas.

Improved Bowel Function

It is believed that standing helps with digestion by allowing gravity action and activation of stomach muscles. It also regulates bowel functioning and emptying.

Better Bladder Management

It can be a devastating experience to be incapable of controlling the bladder voluntarily. Standing is great at combating urinary incontinence. It prevents the occurrence of urinary tract infections, which could result from a leaking bladder. Similarly, it improves the functioning of the bladder for a clear and better awareness and bowel movement.

Prevention of Tight Muscles

Stretching muscles, tendons, heel cords and hamstrings prevent the onset of contractures by increasing range of movement and improving extensibility. Stretch reflexes to the skeletal muscles reduce spasticity, an excessive contraction of the muscle. To the young, it gives a proprioceptive input to develop joints and muscles and endurance to bearing weight. Additionally, it regulates resting of muscle tone.

Improvements in Overall Wellbeing

Standing generally improves a person’s mood, decreases fatigue, and gives stamina. This improves a person’s self-image, self-esteem, and confidence. One has the ability to interact and hold eye-to-eye conversations with their peers. This makes social interaction easy, as one does not have to look up when conversing. Regular standing improves the sleep patterns. The reflexing and toning of the neck are easily controlled for a comfortable and energetic person.

Improved Quality of Life

The level of functioning also increases with standing. Regular standing improves the psychological health and achieves multiple medical benefits. Weight bearing significantly reduces chances of secondary complications such as urinary dysfunction, spasticity, pressure sores, and insufficient cardiac output that limit an individual’s independence.

Standing keeps the body in strong, healthy, and good alignment.

Means and Ways of Standing

Standing can be a life-changing experience. It can be achieved in different ways depending on the ability level of the patient. Assessing the standing options and the right form of support should be provided according to the degree of support needed. Considering the location where the support device will be used when finding the perfect support system is imperative. For an optimal outcome, choose the correct apparatus that are effective and fit the patient.

Standing Frame

Standing frames give support to the person allowing them to remain in the standing position for a longer period. This allows the person to remain in one spot and gain the benefits of weight bearing. The standing frame is ideal for someone who has the ability to control the head. It is easy to store and economises on space.

Standing Wheelchair

This assistive technology helps a survivor achieve a higher level of independence and freedom. It allows a person to stand whenever they are at whatever time as many times as one needs to. It changes a survivor’s life by giving occupational benefits, which include employment chances and more job opportunities. The standing wheelchair boosts a person’s confidence since people see more of the individual than the chair. The stand-up mode offers the same benefits as those of able-bodied individuals.

Leg Braces

They are great for effective therapy and allow functioning while standing.

Develop a standing routine

Regular weight bearing can decrease or eliminate the risks of secondary complications of a spinal injury. In any case, one does not reap the benefits just by standing alone. It should be complemented with movements from a regular sitting position to an upright standing. Standing often in short intervals is advisable than doing it a few times with long intervals in between.

At first, one may experience dizziness and lightheadedness as a result of blood flow to the legs. Getting up slowly from the sitting position is recommended to avoid this. If a person maintains consistency in standing, the body adapts and the dizziness slowly fades away. Impressive results can only be achieved if standing becomes a routine.

The use of upright apparatus has aided many with a variety of means to improve their physical health and the general quality of life.