Great systematic review on pediatric supported standing

Supported standing programs have been used in various settings for more than 50 years in an effort to reduce and prevent complications and to optimize various aspects of function. In spite of widespread clinical use, we lack evidence-based recommendations for effective program dosing. Ginny Paleg PT MPT DScPT.

Elena Noble MPT, Rifton Evidence Based Practice

Rifton photos.

Physical therapists frequently implement supported standing protocols in pediatric settings for children whose disabilities would otherwise confine them to wheelchairs for most of the day. But there is a lack of evidence pertaining to the timing and frequency of adaptive standing for best outcomes.

Ginny Paleg, PT, MPT, DScPT and her team chose to address the problem and recently came out with a comprehensive review of the literature on pediatric supported standing which has been published in the latest Physical Therapy Journal. The article, A Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Clinical Recommendations for Dosing of Pediatric Supported Standing Programs, organizes the available evidence and provides recommendations for dosing of standing to improve bone mineral density, hip stability, range of motion, and spasticity in the pediatric population. In the areas where evidence is lacking or incomplete, the authors include considerations based on expert opinion to help practicing clinicians provide the best evidence-based and clinically sound standing protocols for their students.

This will be an invaluable resource to all pediatric therapists and a great contribution to the field. We extend our special thanks to Ginny Paleg.

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Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Clinical Recommendations for Dosing of Pediatric Supported Standing Programs, Paleg GS, Smith BA, Glickman LB. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2013 Fall;25(3):232-47. doi: 10.1097/PEP.0b013e318299d5e7