The present invention relates to an exercise method for the elderly, individuals
with impaired joint control, and a system for individuals who are suffering from
muscular paralysis and who may or may not be confined to a wheelchair by the implementation
of an exercise device that can safely provide actively supported standing exercise
options to persons who either have limited physical mobility or complete loss of
mobility due to muscular paralysis. An embodiment of the present invention relates
to a standing wheelchair that is used to passively restrain an operator. The axial
and tangential loads that are exerted upon the skeletal system of the operator
are derived and recorded from a force-sensing device. Further, an angle or position
sensor is situated in contact with the standing wheelchair or standing exercise
system in such a manner that the standing angle of an individual or the angle of
the standing wheelchair can be logged and stored for long periods of time. Muscle
force, through electrical stimulation or voluntary exercise can also be logged
and stored in both the standing wheelchair application and in the stationary standing
frame application.