Compensation can occur for two reasons:

1. Compensation for capacity is the result of a lack of neuromusculoskeletal reserve. Reserve here is defined as the difference between the capacity (the physiological abilities of the neuromusculoskeletal system) and the task demand.

2. Compensation for movement objectives is the result of a shift in the relative weighting of movement objectives, reflecting changing priorities, such as an increased fear of falling. Movement objectives are, for example, metabolic energy, velocity, stability (safety), and/or pain avoidance. Within the redundancy of capacity and reserve, the applied movement strategy of humans is probably a consideration of these objectives.

From the onset of physical decline until the moment that movement impairments arise, human movement strategies will include compensation. Therefore compensation is an early indicator of physical decline and as such of importance clinically.

Moreover, insight into the interrelationship between compensation and age-related decline in capacity would support clinicians in their rehabilitation practice, as compensation that is beneficial in the short-term may become detrimental for the capacity in the long-term (e.g., joint degeneration).

Compensation as a result of functional redundancy hasn’t been studied as such. The purpose of this systematic review is to approach the literature on sit-to-stand and sit-to-walk studies from the compensation perspective and create an overview of our current understanding of compensation in standing up, identifying the limitations of the current state of knowledge, and providing recommendations to address these limitations.