Thinking of mobility impairment, we tend to imagine a person with paraplegia or an older person with a walker. Although both of these are part of this medical category, the reality is much more widespread.
These disabilities come with considerable variance in severity. It ranges from stamina limitations to paralysis. The cause of some mobility impairments is illness or injury. Others result from a variety of conditions present at birth.
Reduced movement ability affects every aspect of a person’s life. It limits independence and makes normal activities difficult and sometimes even impossible. According to the folks at Mobility Caring, movement impairment aids can transform people’s lives. It grants individuals with these disabilities more freedom and ensures that they can live safely and with confidence.
Yet, to grasp the importance of mobility care, though, we need to gain a better understanding of these impairments.
What Is Mobility Impairment?
Mobility impairment is a disability category that involves many types of physical dysfunctions. It includes:
- Lower or upper limb incapacity or loss
- Impaired manual dexterity
- Disability concerning various organs of the body
These conditions can be a congenital problem, acquired with age, the result of an injury, or the consequence of disease. Individuals with physical disabilities usually have to rely on assistive devices. It includes gadgets such as canes, artificial limbs, and wheelchairs to obtain mobility.
Typical Causes of Mobility Impairment
Typical causes of impaired mobility are:
- Spinal cord injury – This type of trauma causes various mobility dysfunction forms, depending on the spine’s affected part. The two most severe conditions being quadriplegia and paraplegia.
- Amputation – Caused by malignancies, injury, or other circumstances, resulting in the removal of one or more extremities
- Back disorders – Limits a person’s ability to stand, bend, walk, sit, or carry objects. It includes scoliosis, disk disease, and herniated disks.
- Arthritis – The inflammation of an individual’s joints, causing swelling, pain, and movement difficulty.
- Cerebral palsy – This condition is the result of brain damage caused before or shortly after birth. It can inhibit or prevent walking, and cause spasms, a lack of muscle coordination, and speech difficulty.
- Fibromyalgia – This disorder is a type of muscular rheumatism. It causes persistent pain in ligaments and muscles, affecting a person’s mobility.
- Neuromuscular disorders – This category includes various conditions like multiple sclerosis, ataxia, and muscular dystrophy. It results in atrophy and degeneration of nerve or muscle tissues.
- Heart defects – These disorders typically develop as the heart starts to form during early pregnancy, and it usually affects the mechanics and function of this organ. It can lead to heart failure and may turn the individual’s skin to a bluish or pale grey colour.
How Do Mobility Aids Help?
Mobility aids are gadgets designed to assist people with difficulty moving about, providing them with greater independence and freedom. These devices are usually used by individuals that have sustained injuries or with disabilities. Elderly folks that face an increased risk of falling are also known to use this equipment.
This type of apparatus provides users with several benefits, such as reduced pain, and increased self-esteem and confidence. There is a broad range of these devices available, all tailored to meet the individual’s needs. These include:
- Canes
- Crutches
- Walkers
- Wheelchairs – both electrical and manual
- Stair-lifts
- Mobility scooters.
However, these gadgets don’t come without risk. Excessive or improper use of this equipment may contribute to other injuries. Individuals starting to use mobility aids should schedule an appointment with a physical therapist or doctor to learn how to use the device properly.
To Wrap Up
Various conditions can lead to impaired mobility, to affect every aspect of a person’s life severely. Fortunately, several aids to help improve an individual’s quality of life are available. These devices are designed to increase movement. From crutches and canes to electronic scooters and wheelchairs, they grant people more independence and freedom.