How to Build a Standing Frame

A standing frame is used to aid the mobility of a person who is disabled or handicapped. These devices are often used by people in wheelchairs, allowing them to maneuver into a standing position, which would otherwise be impossible without aid.



A standing frame can help a person both physically and emotionally. It prevents secondary complications, increases range of motion and encourages circulation, as well as provides increased self-esteem and independence. Standing frames may also help in the rehabilitation of the temporarily handicapped.

Things You'll Need

• Permanent marker
• Paper
• Measuring tape
• Table saw or saw bench
• 2 pieces lumber-core plywood sheets, 3/4 inch thick
• Wood glue
• 1 square foot of 1/2-inch foam
• 1 square foot of 1-inch foam
• Spray adhesive for foam
• 3 square feet of vinyl
• 60 wood screws, 1 5/8 inch
• Screwdriver
• 3 1/2-inch-by-3-foot support strap with buckle

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Measure the person you are building the standing frame for using a measuring tape. Measure from the bottom of the foot to the elbow. The person must be in a full standing position, so if they are incapable of standing upright on their own, you will need to measure them while they are lying down with their legs straight. Their elbow should be at their side. Add 5 inches to the length and write this number down as "standing height."

  Now measure the length from the bottom of the person's foot to the middle of their calf and write this measurement down as "Support 1." Measure from the bottom of the foot to the middle of the hamstring and write this as "Support 2." Measure the bottom of the foot to the bottom of the buttocks and write it down as "Support 3."

• 2

  Cut your wood. Cut one of the plywood pieces to be as long as the standing height measured in Step 1. Now cut it in half lengthwise, so that you have two 24-inch wide pieces. Mark one of these pieces with the word "trunk" and set aside.

  Take the other 48-inch-wide-by-56-inch-long piece and cut 26 inches off the length, so that you have one piece of wood that measures 48 by 30 and another piece that measures 48 by 26. Cut the 48-by-30-inch piece in half lengthwise to create two 24-by-30-inch pieces. Mark one of these pieces with the word "base" and one with the word "top." Set aside.

• 3

  Cut your support posts. Take one of your 24-inch wide standing height pieces (not the one marked "trunk") and cut 5 inches off of the height. Using this same piece of wood, measure 18 inches from the left side and mark the spot with a permanent marker. On the bottom of this piece, measure 6 inches from left to right and mark that spot as well. Using a ruler, connect the top mark to the bottom mark -- this line will be sloped -- and saw the piece in half. Mark each piece with the words "support post." Set aside.

• 4

  Cut your gussets. The leftover wood will be used to create your gussets. A gusset is a triangular piece of wood with a 90-degree angle and the two points connected by an angled slope. You will need two large and two small gussets to serve as the support for your standing frame. Using your saw, cut two small gussets measuring 10 by 10 inches and two large gussets measuring 20 by 12 inches. Set aside.

• 5

  Form the trunk of your standing frame. The trunk will consist of the main standing frame and its two support posts. You cut your support posts in Step 3. Now take the piece you marked "trunk" and, using a tape measure, measure 6 1/2 inches from the left and 6 1/2 inches from right, and mark both of these spots. From these spots, measure 10 inches up from the bottom on both sides and mark these spots. Use the tape measure to connect all the spots with straight lines. Using a saw, remove the 10-by-11-inch square that you just created.

• 6

  Create a chest stop for the trunk. Continue working on your trunk piece, but this time measure 5 inches from the top on both sides and mark these spots. Now, measure 61/2 inches from left to right and 6 1/2 inches from right to left and mark both of these spots. Use your measuring tape to create perpendicular lines using these points. You will now see two squares on either side of the top of the trunk. Using your saw, cut these pieces out so that the center 11-inch piece is higher than the rest of the trunk.

• 7

  Create a chest space for the "top." Grab the wood marked "top" and lay it down so that the length (the longest part) is facing you. Measure 6 inches in from the left and 6 inches from the right and mark these points. From these two spots, measure 6 inches up and mark these spots. Use a ruler to connect each spot with a straight line. Using your saw, cut out the rectangle you have just created, similar to what you did in Step 5.

• 8

  Cut the padding pieces from the foam. You will need padding for the arms, chest and knees. Using the 1-inch thick foam, cut two 8-by-6-inch rectangles. Using the 1/2-inch-thick foam, cut one 11-by-6-inch rectangle and two 5-by-6-inch rectangles. Using the spray adhesive, cover all of the padding pieces with vinyl.

• 9

  Assemble the standing frame. Place the "base" on the floor. At the back of the base, place a support post 1 inch from each side of the base, angled edge facing out, and screw them into the base. Attach the "trunk" to the flat sides of the support posts using wood glue and then secure it with screws. Place the large gussets on the front of the base so that the longest edge is against the front of the trunk and the shortest edge is against the base and attach. Slide the "top" onto the upper of the "trunk" so that it sits evenly over the tops of the two support posts. Make sure the chest space of the "top" sits flush with the chest stop of the "trunk." Finally, attach the small gussets to the underside of the top to support it against the trunk. Make sure all the pieces have been secured with wood glue and/or screws.

• 10

  Attach support straps. Using the three "support" measurements you obtained in Step 1, mark the trunk by measuring from the base up. At each of these measurements, attach one of the support straps to each side of the trunk about 1 inch from the support posts.

• 11

  Attach padding. Using spray adhesive, attach the chest pad to the chest stop on the "trunk" and the arm pads to the arms on the "top." You can attach the knee pads at this time as well, though it may be easier to measure for this once the person is in the device. This will ensure the most comfortable fit for the user.