But I got over that. I loved it. I saw the change in my body right away. Two health risks of wheelchair users are softer leg bones and poorer circulation. When legs do not have to carry the weight of the upper body, they begin to lose calcium and become soft.
Bones then break more easily on heavy impact.
The act of walking is a pumping action that moves blood through the body. Legs that are inactive have less efficient circulation since their muscles are not helping the process. Always sitting also limits circulation to the legs because of the angles that veins and arteries must pass at the hips and knees. Standing lets gravity help circulation, as blood passes straight down the body without having to turn corners. The risks of softer leg bones and poorer circulation can be addressed with standing frames, which comprise a growing segment of the medical supply industry.