For children who are unable to stand and walk on their own, using a device that helps them achieve these skills is extremely important for their bone and muscle development, cardiorespiratory fitness, and gastrointestinal health, as well as their social skills. A recent article in Advance for Physical Therapy and Rehab Medicine describes the benefits of a less well-known stander: a glider stander.
A glider stander provides all the benefits of a traditional stander, however also provides an opportunity for a child to exercise their arms as well as experience dynamic standing--moving their legs while in a standing position. A glider stander is similar to what you may think of as an elliptical machine at a gym. As the child moves their arms, their legs move in opposition in the device. The article goes on to discuss the benefits of dynamic versus static standing.
The full article can be found at physical-therapy.advanceweb.com/Archives/Article-Archives/On-His-Own.aspx. If you have questions about if a glider stander may be appropriate for your child, please contact a physical therapist at Child and Family Development.
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