The Impact of Supported Standing on Well-Being and Quality of Life

Abstract

Purpose: To identify the characteristics of people who use standing devices and to explore their degree of device use, experiences with and reasons for standing, and perceived impact of the use of standing devices on well-being and quality of life (QOL). Method: Anyone with a current prescription at the time for the study in any of five counties in Sweden (n=545), according to a national register of prescribed devices, was invited to participate in a descriptive survey; the questionnaire was mailed to respondents for self-rating. Results: People between 2 and 86 years old were represented among respondents. Standing time decreased with increased age. Respondents who were totally dependent for mobilization or who had received their standing device more than 5 years earlier used their device most frequently. The most common reasons given for standing were to improve circulation and well-being and to reduce stiffness. Conclusion: It is important to pay attention to the experiences of standing for this vulnerable group of people, as the use of a standing device has a positive impact on well-being and QOL.