# Here's a cool standing wheelchair. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 19, 2017, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-cool-standing-wheelchair/789364 "2017-06-19T10:37:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2017, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-cool-standing-wheelchair/789364/21 "2017-06-20T19:29:35Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > But truth be told, I think he’s getting so good at dealing with it in his chair (he’s only been in it for about four years), I don’t think he’d want to put up with the added pain-in-the-ass of the thing. This can’t be overstated. I don’t think many people realize just how cumbersome and difficult to navigate those standing chairs are. I guarantee you that a relatively experienced wheeler would have a _ **much** _ easier time working from their standard chairs than trying to accomplish anything using a standing chair. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2017, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-cool-standing-wheelchair/789364/22 "2017-06-20T21:05:24Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > While I’ve never seen a car that was big enough to fit a standing wheelchair, even if such cars are available, a wheelchair user is not going to be able to put it in the trunk without some assistance. And assistance is often times not available. While using the standing chair, you push your empty sitting chair everywhere (or leave it out side the car because no one would steal a wheelchair). When you need to get in the car you simply go around to the back, transfer to the sitting chair, put the standing chair into the trunk, wheel to the side of the car, transfer to the driver’s seat, fold the sitting chair and put it in the back seat. Easy peasy! [sub]Sorry, I must have been channeling Rube Goldberg[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2017, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-cool-standing-wheelchair/789364/23 "2017-06-20T22:04:46Z")
Another thing is, most standing chairs do not fold up or collapse for easier travel. So it’s impossible to fit it in the trunk space of any car. That may be changing with newer models but I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2017, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-cool-standing-wheelchair/789364/24 "2017-06-20T22:15:50Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Another thing is, most standing chairs do not fold up or collapse for easier travel. So it’s impossible to fit it in the trunk space of any car. That may be changing with newer models but I don’t know. Is it anything but a prone stander with wheels? Is it remotely possible there might be some benefit to children with conditions like CP who use wheelchairs, but need to spend a certain amount of time with their feet bearing their weight each day, for development, and maybe get bored being in one place? I can see a kid using one around the house or the front yard (with a paved driveway and sidewalk), and the movement possibly even helping, but I don’t know an adult wheelchair user who would make this their daily “chair,” and consider it anything but a novelty item. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-cool-standing-wheelchair/789364/25 "2017-06-21T02:38:53Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Many wheelchair users of my acquaintance use something like a van anyway. But this looks like it could lie flat in the boot of a larger car. given the engineering thought behind this it would be nothing to add a hitch mount for a car. You would use your light weight wheel chair to exit the vehicle and then transition to this unit. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-cool-standing-wheelchair/789364/26 "2017-06-21T03:01:17Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Is it anything but a prone stander with wheels? Is it remotely possible there might be some benefit to children with conditions like CP who use wheelchairs, but need to spend a certain amount of time with their feet bearing their weight each day, for development, and maybe get bored being in one place? I can see a kid using one around the house or the front yard (with a paved driveway and sidewalk), and the movement possibly even helping, but I don’t know an adult wheelchair user who would make this their daily “chair,” and consider it anything but a novelty item. The only way to really affect bone density is to combine the static standing with vibration. This mimics the effects of walking for those who lack that ability. Static standing chairs, like the one I have, don’t provide substantial benefits in this regard (despite initially using bone strengthening as their main selling point). The other tangible benefits of a standing chair include better circulation, relief of pressure and range-of-motion improvements (it is not uncommon for a long-time wheelchair user to be unable to fully straighten their legs due to the atrophy). ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-cool-standing-wheelchair/789364/27 "2017-06-21T10:07:00Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > Quartz is in the UK, so there may be an allowance or service the NHS provides for that purpose. > Or the wheelchair users he knows are rich and have chauffeurs? Spouses and (adult) children mainly. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-cool-standing-wheelchair/789364/28 "2017-06-21T11:18:59Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > Quartz is in the UK, so there may be an allowance or service the NHS provides for that purpose. > Or the wheelchair users he knows are rich and have chauffeurs? Or the UK is more restrictive in handing out drivers’ licenses. Here in the US my husband had full driving privileges. While living and working in the UK he had a severely restricted license due entirely to his being categorized as disabled. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-cool-standing-wheelchair/789364/29 "2017-06-21T11:25:10Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > The only way to really affect bone density is to combine the static standing with vibration. This mimics the effects of walking for those who lack that ability. Static standing chairs, like the one I have, don’t provide substantial benefits in this regard (despite initially using bone strengthening as their main selling point). > > The other tangible benefits of a standing chair include better circulation, relief of pressure and range-of-motion improvements (it is not uncommon for a long-time wheelchair user to be unable to fully straighten their legs due to the atrophy). So this actually might benefit people as a prone stander that provides “shock” for lack of a better word, and might help with bone density, and might even be more interesting for a kid to have than a static prone stander, and actually help bone density a lot, but as a mode of transportation, be kind of a wash-out? ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-cool-standing-wheelchair/789364/30 "2017-06-21T16:05:57Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Or the UK is more restrictive in handing out drivers’ licenses. > > Here in the US my husband had full driving privileges. While living and working in the UK he had a severely restricted license due entirely to his being categorized as disabled. I see, so it’s no that people choose to have others drive them - it’s that they have no other choice. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-cool-standing-wheelchair/789364/31 "2017-06-21T16:16:57Z")
At least in some cases that is likely true. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-cool-standing-wheelchair/789364/32 "2017-06-21T18:04:27Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > So this actually might benefit people as a prone stander that provides “shock” for lack of a better word, and might help with bone density, and might even be more interesting for a kid to have than a static prone stander, and actually help bone density a lot, but as a mode of transportation, be kind of a wash-out? Yes but I think a kid would find the novelty of static standing to be short-lived. It’s _not_ fun, it’s mind-numbingly boring. ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-cool-standing-wheelchair/789364/33 "2017-06-21T18:17:00Z")
I’ve seen a surgeon using one of these in the OR. I was under the impression that it would be impossible for them to operate without it. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-cool-standing-wheelchair/789364/34 "2017-06-21T18:17:54Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Yes but I think a kid would find the novelty of static standing to be short-lived. It’s _not_ fun, it’s mind-numbingly boring. So it prepares them to work in retail at the same time, win-win. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-cool-standing-wheelchair/789364/35 "2017-06-21T18:45:10Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > I see, so it’s no that people choose to have others drive them - it’s that they have no other choice. I think more so than not having any other choice, people _choose_ independence. This highlights one way in which able-bodied people can misunderstand disability and how people live with it. Another example of the same mistaken mentality is found in people’s reactions to physical discomfort/wear and tear related to using a standard chair. “Well why don’t you get a motorized chair?” It’s as if the idea of choosing a manual chair over a motorized one is so foreign to their preconceptions of what life is like for the disabled that such an option would never dawn on them. Well, the reason I don’t have a motorized chair is because I _already_ lack the ability to use my legs. Why would I _voluntarily_ give up everyday use of my arms as well? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-cool-standing-wheelchair/789364.md?page=1)