Mobility impairment can denote various kinds of physical disability such as upper / lower limb loss or disability, manual dexterity or disability in coordinating different body organs. Mobility impairment can be either congenital or acquired as a result of an injury, amputation, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, stroke or other.

People with physical disabilities often use various assistive devices or mobility aids such as crutches, wheelchairs, mobility scooters, canes and artificial limbs to improve and facilitate their mobility. However, they often experience other issues such as loss of muscle mass and strength, joint pains and gait changes which affects their balance and compromises their mobility. Consequently, this also impacts their daily activities and quality of life.

Crutches

Crutches are usually provided by a healthcare professional following a leg injury and are used to help the person to walk while reducing the weight on the injured leg. There are two types of crutches: underarm (Axilla) and forearm (Elbow) crutch. The first one is used positioning the top of the crutches 1-2 inches below the armpits and levelling the handgrips with the crease of your wrists while slightly bending the elbow and your weight should be through the handgrips to protect your armpit blood vessels. The second type is used similarly with the cuff positioned 1-2 inches below the bend of your elbow.

When using the crutches, ensure the screws are tightly secured and that the rubber tips aren't worn and damaged. For safety reasons, always wear non-slip shoes and when trying to sit down, feel the chair first with the back of your thighs before you sit down.

Wheelchair

Various types of contemporary wheelchairs give the disabled much more freedom and independence in moving around than before. For people with a very limiting type of mobility, a motorized wheelchair is the most convenient. It is operated by a joystick with one hand and it's excellent for independent spirits who dislike being helped.

The downside is that these wheelchairs are less manoeuvrable than self-propelling ones but better than push-wheelchairs or scooters. They're also hard to fit into most cars you'll need to have a modified vehicle.

For patients who want easy steering and access to shops but also have a healthy upper body and strong arms, a self-propelling wheelchair is the best choice. It can easily fit inside a car and gives the person total mobility. The tricky part is the terrain. Using these chairs on thick carpeting can be more difficult, going uphill exhausting while going downhill is very dangerous. Moreover, your hands are vulnerable to injury from gripping the wheels wearing fingerless gloves is highly recommended.

Mobility scooters

Mobility scooters are easy and safe to use for most individuals but there are still some precautions to take. Before you head out for a drive, make sure the battery is fully charged and bear in mind that their lifespan depends on its voltage and the scooter's size. You also need to check the pressure in each tyre as over- or under-inflated tyres will influence the vehicle's velocity.

Once you're seated, place both hands on the handlebars and both feet on the scooter's platform and just like driving a car, be fully focused while you drive. It's recommended you stay on flat and smooth surfaces as these mobility scooters aren't designed for slopes or rough terrain.

Ramp access

People who use wheelchairs aren't able to use stairs and they're faced with this challenge everywhere in public unless there's proper wheelchair access. If there isn't, it can cause them to feel uncomfortable and to reduce their outings and socializing. There's also a greater risk of falling at home so installing a ramp at home is a basic necessity for anyone using a wheelchair.

The access ramp needs to be built to the highest standards to allow the wheelchair users to move around freely and safely so it's best to turn to specialists who produce and install disability aids to build one for your home. This will help the users maintain their dignity and independence and stay safe while still being able to go out and lead an active lifestyle.

Grab rails

Grab rails are support rails most typically installed in bathrooms to give the disabled person more stable handheld stability in a slippery area. They can hold onto grab rails when using the toilet, shower, bath or just moving around the bathroom.

They're usually quite affordable and easy to use but are a great way to avoid the risk of falls and injury. There are various kinds and sizes available that are also very easily installed, ranging from straight or curved, suction or fixed or even stylishly integrated with a soap dish holder, towel rail or a toilet paper holder.

Living with a physical disability is very challenging but not necessarily something that should limit a person's freedom of movement. With joint effort and a lot of support, we can all make their lives a little bit easier and a lot more fun!