Follow-up assessment of standing mobility device users

The use of standing devices by spinal cord-injured subjects was investigate d through a national survey of a sample of individuals who returned their m anufacturer's warranty card to two companies. We obtained a 32% response ra te (99/310). The majority of respondents were male (87%) with a median age between 41 and 50 years. Seventy-seven percent were paraplegic and 21% were quadriplegic. Forty percent had between 1 and 5 years experience with thei r device, and 84% of those responding were currently using their standing d evice. Forty-one percent used their standing device one to six times a week ; two-thirds stood between 30 minutes and 1 hour for each use. Less than 10 % of subjects experienced any side effects, such as nausea or headaches, fr om standing. Twenty-one percent of subjects reported being able to empty th eir bladder more completely. There was also a favorable response by some in dividuals on the effects of the standing devices on bowel regularity, reduc tion of urinary tract infections, leg spasticity, and number of bed sores. Finally, 79% of subjects highly recommended use of standing devices to othe r people with spinal cord injury, The positive responses of individuals usi ng standing devices is a strong recommendation for the assistive technology community to make these devices more available to individuals with spinal cord injury.