Living with Cerebral Palsy and Standing Tall
Today, I was taking a break from work and reading my FaceBook page. While that is not unusual, and has nothing to do with Living with Cerebral Palsy, an ad in the right hand margin caught my eye.
If you are like me, standing is not an option. Yes, I have rails and such in my bathroom, so I can transfer to the shower, etc. But, I haven’t really stood up for 8 years, since putting down my forearm crutches. I know some of you have never stood on your own two feet. So when I saw the ad for Easy Stand, I wanted to tell you about it right away.
The contraption enables people with cerebral palsy that are incomplete/complete paraplegics to stand on their own two feet once in a while. For me, I would love to be able to stand up just long enough to cook supper or unload the dishwasher, so I could look into the pot or reach cupboards. Right now, I can’t imagine such a treat!
I got this picture off their site, so you can get the general idea. This is the youth version, but they also have ones for adults and extra tall and heavy adults.
My first thought is that a standing aid might have helped prevent my non-active osteoporosis. Bones and muscles that don’t get used weaken. But, would it also make it easier to do some chores? Would it simply feel great to get off my bottom once in a while?
Do you use one? Would you, if given the chance? Should those of us in wheelchairs start saving for one? Let me know what you think.
