On an equal footing: adults’ accounts of the experience of using assistive devices for standing

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study was to illuminate the meaning that standing holds for persons who require standing devices. Method: The phenomenological/hermeneutical analysis of the interviews was carried out using a life world-approach. Fifteen users of standing devices lacking the ability to stand independently participated in the interviews.Result: Each person’s lived experiences of standing in their devices indicated that the upright body position opens up an opportunity for connection to the outside world. An upright body position (i) alters the person’s sense of self, (ii) augments the person’s availability to the outside world, (iii) strengthens social interplay, and (iv) changes a person’s motivation and their expectations over time. Conclusion: Standing may be something that unites the body and self. Understanding the meaning of the altered body position that the use of standing devices opens up is vital for physiotherapists and occupational therapists prescribing these devices. Furthermore, it is important to take account of the subjective body, as well as the biological one, to enhance the adoption of different body positions and the person’s experiences.

Implications for Rehabilitation

Prolonged standing in standing devices

• Use of assistive devices for standing has benefits beyond physical/physiological ones.

• Standing in assistive devices for standing positively affects subjective well-being.

• Use of assistive devices for standing enhanced participation and social functioning of persons with severe disabilities such as spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis.

Keywords::

• Disability
• life-world
• assistive devices
• rehabilitation
• prolonged standing

Acknowledgements

The authors thank all the persons who participated in the interviews and shared their experiences of standing in standing devices with us.

Declaration of interest

Financial support was kindly provided by the Norrbacka-Eugenia Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden.