Mobility Aids – Tools for Greater Mobility

A mobility aid is an umbrella term used to denote all the devices that assist in the movement of people who suffer from mobility impairment. These devices maybe anything, ranging from wheelchairs, cranes, and walkers to crutches and mobility scooters.

A cane or a walker may aid a person who has a risk of falling while walking. If the patient has to keep the weight of his body off his legs, he can use crutches. A wheel chair or scooter can help people who can’t walk due to some injury or health condition.

Mobility aids are used by different people for various purposes. Mostly, they are used for long term mobility assistance and during a phase of the patient’s rehabilitation program. Sometimes, they are used for a short period of time when the patient is recovering from a surgery and can’t move around freely. In other cases though, the injury has a sustained effect on the patient’s mobility and total recovery becomes impossible. In such cases, these mobility aids may serve as a long term solution for the patient. In any case, one should choose such devices after doing some careful research and upon a doctor’s recommendation.

If the particular device fits the patient, it might turn out to be a boon and can give the patient some much needed support for walking and moving around. Devices that don’t fit, on the other hand, can make the patient very uncomfortable and insecure. It is vital to assess the disability conditions of the patient, his needs, his lifestyle and the condition and terrain of his house before choosing the mobility device for him.

Such aids can be designed to suit a patient’s specific physical abilities, in a bid to achieve the correct balance and coordination. These aids do more than just providing increased stability to the patient’s body. Some of their other benefits include:

●        They aid in the even distribution of body weight

●        They help in maintaining an upright and straight body position

●        They improve the patient’s self confidence

●        Independent patients need not rely on others for moving from one place to another

●        They help in improving the walking patterns of the patient

There is a common misconception that only people with medical conditions, which render them unable to walk, use mobility aids. This is not the case, though, and even people who can move freely without the support of others but have some trouble in walking steadily can use these devices for support. There are many varieties of such devices and care should be taken in choosing the right device, one that would suit the patient’s needs.

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