Have you or someone you know been struggling more with standing up from a chair or couch? If so, this post is for you. You’re not alone. Standing up from a seated position is often more challenging than other movements, such as walking. This is because it requires your muscles to work harder to transition the major joints from a flexed to an extended upright position.
Take a moment to consider this: standing up involves using your muscles to pull on your bones in a specific way, causing your joints to move against the forces of gravity. It’s quite remarkable when you think about it. Unlike walking, where joint movement is minimal, standing up demands a more intricate interplay of muscles and joints.
Now, let’s explore ways to make standing up as easy as possible.
Setup
Before attempting to stand up, follow these steps:
- Scoot forward
- Move your feet back
- Place your hands on the armrest
- Lean your head and chest forward
Once you have this setup, it’s time to move on to the next step.
Initial Press
- Keep your head and chest forward as you look towards the ground while pushing yourself up
- Press down and slightly back to help shift your body forward as you begin to rise
- Straighten your knees while maintaining the forward position of your head and chest
Final Extension
As your knees are nearly straight, begin to stand up straight, lifting your chest and head up
If you’ve made these adjustments and still find standing up difficult, it might be worth considering a leg-strengthening program to improve your ability. If you’ve already explored this option without success, your final consideration could be seeking assistance through devices designed to aid in standing. I’ll cover these options in a separate blog post, so stay tuned for that.
Thanks for reading! Stay strong and keep moving.