Updated May 21, 2021
My mother, Barbara, had MS and used a standing wheelchair for years. She LOVED that wheelchair. When we were out in public, she would often ask me to stand her up (she had a manual standing chair) so that she could “show it off”. Take a look at my standing wheelchair reviews and see which is best for you.
What is a standing wheelchair
A standing wheelchair is a type of assistive technology that allows a wheelchair user to raise the chair from a seated to a standing position. Sometimes called a stand up chair, it supports the person in an upright or standing position and enables them to interact with other people and objects at eye level. So, let’s take a look at some of the best standing wheelchairs.
Standing wheelchairs are used by people with either paraplegia or quadriplegia. There are different standing options available to accommodate persons with mild to severe disabilities including: spinal cord injury, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, rett syndrome, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, post-polio syndrome and more.
The benefits of a standing wheelchair
The benefits of a standing wheelchair are many. For my mom, the main benefit was the ability to get off of her butt. It gave her the ability to stretch, eliminated the chance of getting sores and improved the muscle tone in her legs. She also had fewer urinary tract infections and less spasticity due to her MS.
Other benefits include:
- Being able to stand may increase independence and enhance employment and leisure opportunities
- Standing wheelchair users find they have more energy, enhanced functional ability, and greater independence
- Allows easy use of kitchen counters and appliances and access to overhead cabinets or grocery store shelves
- From a physical wellness perspective, RESNA reports that more frequent standing can help maintain organ capacity, as well as reduce the occurrence of urinary tract infections and pressure sores. We saw this benefit with my mother.
- Improves blood circulation and muscle tone
- Promotes kidney and bladder functioning
- Improves quality of life
- Reduces muscle contracture
- Reduces bone decalcification and osteoporosis risk
- Prevents and heals pressure sores
Types of standing wheelchairs
Manual Chair
With a manual chair, the mobility and lifting mechanisms are not powered. My mom had a manual chair and they are very easy to move into the standing position. The spring-action mechanism offsets the person’s weight and the chair can easily be lifted. Some people with limited upper body mobility may have difficulty adjusting the chair to the standing position.
Half-power
This chair features powered mobility but manual lifting mechanisms. The standard lightweight manual can be tricked-up with a small, powerful motor, affixed to the wheel units or attached to the base of the chair. When the assist is turned on, a forward push on the handrim gives the chair a strong boost.
Full-power
This type of chair features powered mobility and hydraulic or otherwise powered lifting mechanisms. A person who can’t push may require a wheelchair or scooter powered by an electric motor and batteries and controlled by a joystick.
My top picks
Here are the two top standing chairs that I recommend. See below for a review of each one.
Manual Standing Chair
Powered Standing Chair
The Leo II Standing Wheelchair is the lightest standing wheelchair in the world. Made of high grade aluminium alloy, it is not only stylish, but extremely durable.
The Karman XO-505 is the newest addition to the power standing wheelchair family. The state of the art XO-505 includes features that are unrivaled at its price point, and value.
My Reviews
Leo II (18″) Lightest Manual Standing Wheelchair
The Leo is a manual standing wheelchair that is so stylish, lightweight, user friendly, and is known as the lightest standing wheelchair in the world. If you enjoy using a manual wheelchair and would like to frequently stand-up by yourself, Leo is really your best choice.
Review: 
Great chair, good looking, light-weight, and top quality craftmanship.
Features
- Proprietary user-controlled stand-up & sit-down mechanism to prevent muscle spasm during up & down movement. User must have strength on both arms and hand. Now you can do more exercise by standing up.
- Total operational weight of 27 kg (59 lbs) and able to decrease to 21.5 kg (47 lbs). Quick release front and rear wheels with foldable backrest for easier transport. It can fit in a car trunk after detached the wheels and backrest being folded.
- Adjustable leg length, seat depth and angle adjustable footrest to suit different users. Available in 14″, 16″ and 18″ seat width.
- Polyurethane rear wheels suspension for better riding comfort over rough surfaces. Comes with adjustable anti-tilt support. This full aluminium alloy standing wheelchair is very stylish, and also made of top quality materials and workmanship to meet the highest safety & durability requirements.
Karman XO-505 Power Standing Chair
When it comes to standing devices, this chair is at the top of the food chain. It comes standard with a mid wheel drive, full sit to stand power function, power tilting and reclining feature, a full control display, ergonomic leg rest support cushion, extendable arm support, full support harness, and a new power hydraulic system.
Rating:
The price is roughly a third of what the high-end standing chairs cost with similar features.
Features:
- 6061 T-6 Aircraft-grade Aluminum Frame
- Full control LCD display
- Full leg rest support cushion
- Extendable arm/hand support bars on both sides
- H-style Chest harness
- Dual front LED headlights (Luxury Model)
- Rear dual headlights w/ flashing feature (Luxury Model)
- New powered hydraulic system
- Full size frontal food tray (Optional)
- Range per Charge: ~25 Miles
- Easy To Use Joystick For Drive & Stand
- USB support for mobile devices (optional)
- Rear caster wheels
- Power Reclining Feature
- Power Tilting Feature
- Mid wheel drive
- Full sit to stand power function
- Mounting frame for the seat cushion is 16 1/8, because the chair is designed for the seat cushion to rest above the seat frames
Paying for a standing wheelchair
It is possible that Medicare, or similar governmental agencies if you are outside of the U.S., may help pay for some of the cost of a standing wheelchair. In the U.S. Medicaid funding varies by state so check with your local Medicare office for more information.
In addition, some insurance companies, vocational rehabilitation organizations, and medical case managers are starting to fund standing wheelchairs because of the long-term health and quality of life benefits that come from passive standing.
You can also set up a low monthly payment plan through Amazon’s Store Card.
In Summary
I hope that I’ve conveyed the benefits of having a standing wheelchair because there are many. I think my mom would have stood in that thing all day if I had let her.
Please let me know if you have any specific questions. You can leave a note in the comment section below and I’ll get back to your right away. This is a really important topic for me and I’d love to help.
