Permobil issues white paper on standing power wheelchairs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Permobil has published a new white paper on the benefits of standing power wheelchairs that draws from reviews from 41 publications, usage data from Permobil Connect and an internal survey. 

Top takeaways include: 

• The positive effects on pressure relief for skin, bone mineral density and bowel/bladder function in users. 
• Improved mental health and self-esteem, and the increased ability to communicate and perform daily activities. 
• Ability to better participate in social and educational activities for children, and work and community settings for adults. 

“We are pleased to share the results of this comprehensive review with the industry,” says Chuck Witkowski, president of Permobil Americas.  “This research clearly summarizes how standing functionality positively impacts the everyday life of our end users.” 

The last position paper on wheelchair standing devices was published in 2013 by RESNA. 

Permobil’s white paper adds further value by including: 

• Evidence from power standing wheelchair research (not standing frames/devices). 
• Data on standing function usage from Permobil Connect collected from a large group of users worldwide. 
• Global consensus and input from 120 Permobil representatives involved in sales and clinical education. 
• Recent research from the last decade. 
• Pictures and quotes from a F5 Corpus VS user in his teens that helped to visualize and explain the scientific evidence provided. 
• Addresses user conditions such as cerebral palsy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury.