title: The impact of supported standing on well-being and quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the characteristics of people who use standing devices and to explore their degree of device use, experiences with and reasons for standing, and perceived impact of the use of standing devices on well-being and quality of life (QOL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Anyone with a current prescription at the time for the study in any of five counties in Sweden (n=545), according to a national register of prescribed devices, was invited to participate in a descriptive survey; the questionnaire was mailed to respondents for self-rating.
  
  
  RESULTS
  People between 2 and 86 years old were represented among respondents. Standing time decreased with increased age. Respondents who were totally dependent for mobilization or who had received their standing device more than 5 years earlier used their device most frequently. The most common reasons given for standing were to improve circulation and well-being and to reduce stiffness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important to pay attention to the experiences of standing for this vulnerable group of people, as the use of a standing device has a positive impact on well-being and QOL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Development, Norrbotten County Council ; Department of Health Sciences, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Birgitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nordström
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Näslund
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Development, Norrbotten County Council.
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nyberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Development, Norrbotten County Council.
authors.forename: Lilly
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ekenberg
keywords: disabled persons; postural balance; quality of life; self-help devices