Hesperian Health Guides

Standing Aids

In this chapter:

Standing aids Many children who have difficulty with balance or control when standing may benefit from standing or playing in a “standing aid.” Even for the child who may never stand or walk on her own, being held in a standing position with weight on her legs helps circulation and bone growth and strength.

See also

STANDING BOARD

Sometimes a child who does not have enough control or strength to hold his head when lying, can hold his head up better when sitting or standing. A simple standing board can help hold the child in a stable position. This one leans against a table.
Boy lying face down on wedge.
child on a standing board.
hip straps
A simple standing board with arrows pointing to different features.
holes for straps
knee separator can be added
holes for feet (straps may also be needed)

LEANING BOARD

Leaning board. from Don Caston and HealthLink Leaning board with person face down on it. Boy standing supported by two bars and bar between the legs.

BACK-BOARD

This can be used to gradually bring a child to a standing position. It is especially useful for older children who get dizzy if stood up straight too quickly. This can happen after a spinal cord injury or a long, severe illness. The child can be stood up gradually and for longer each day.

Boy lying on back board, strapped in.
Use angle irons to hold boards firmly.
block to hold legs apart (if needed)
straps
Boy on back board being lifted half way and then fully lifted to standing position.

STAND-IN TABLE

child playing in a standing aid, a standing aid with arrows pointing to it's different components.
hinges (cloth or leather)
clasp
door
padded knee block adjustable foot board for children of different heights

OTHER IDEAS

Child standing in wide cement pipe playing with plant. Girl standing in a hollow trunk and child standing in plastic trashcan with feet holes fastened to a board.
large tile or cement pipe hollow log (like people use for bee hives) plastic garbage container. (Fasten it to a wide base to keep it from tipping over.)

STANDING FRAMES

These are mainly for a child with contractures or painful joints who has difficulty standing straight. The child can gradually be straightened up.



ADJUSTABLE MODEL

standing frame with labeled components.
bolt or pin for adjustment
adjustable padded hip support
adjustable padded ankle-foot support
table
chest pad
knee pad
DVC Ch62 Page 575-2.png
back view
bolts or pins for adjustment
Remove backboard to stand child in frame.




MOVABLE MODEL

movable standing frame with labeled components.
Uprights can be made of wood or metal tubing.
wide belt of thick cloth with Velcro or strap adjustment
adjustable board with padded notches for knees
The notched part can be made of foam plastic.
adjustable foot support



SIMPLE FIXED MODEL

two versions on a fixed standing frame.
For some children, a chest belt will also be needed


STANDING-AND-WALKING FRAME
This is a useful aid to begin standing and walking, for children paralyzed or severely affected below the waist (paraplegia, spina bifida, diplegic cerebral palsy).

different components of a standing-and-walking frame.
Velcro or other fastener
chest strap
A hip band may also be needed.
foot positioning block and straps
The back-board should tilt back slightly to let the child stand straight up.
For standing only, use a flat base.
The base is oval with the longer dimension sideways.
For walking, add runners with a curved front. This makes it easier for the child to tilt forward and lift off.
Instead of kneepads, you can hold the knees better using a firm knee support molded from stiff foam plastic or many layers of cardboard glued together.
child standing in a flat based frame.
components of a walking frame, child walking in the frame with runners attached to the bottom of the base.



STANDING-WALKING BRACE
This has the same use as the standing-walking frame above, but is especially useful for children who need to learn how to walk before they are fitted for braces with a hip band or body brace.

DESIGN THAT DOES NOT ALLOW SITTING DESIGN WITH HIP AND KNEE
HINGES TO ALLOW SITTING
components of a standing-and-walking brace with no knee hinges
front plate (plastic or thin metal, well padded)
stiff plastic foam knee support
foot guide
standing-and-walking brace with knee hinges.
hip hinge
locking handles
knee hinge
(From Physically Handicapped Children—A Medical Atlas For Teachers.)




This page was updated:18 Sep 2024