Quick Overview on Ageing Mobility Problems
Ageing is a prospect that will happen to all of us at some point, so it is important to realize that along with getting old there does come some problems with mobility. For the elderly mobility is an important element of their quality of life. Due to their ageing population modern societies intend to intervene and enhance the mobility of the elderly on the basis of research findings from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany. Hip and joint problems are the most common causes of mobility problems. In cases like these, afflicted individuals may opt for a permanent hip pain management such as an invasive surgical procedure. Some people choose total hip replacement surgery, such as the recalled DePuy metal-on-metal hip replacement. On a similar note, The Stryker hip replacement recall broadens definition of metal-on-metal hip.
Mobility problems, whether caused by a disability or just old age, may turn daily tasks into difficult torment. That's why it's important for people with mobility issues to understand the devices out there that may aid them in their fight against mobility problems.
According to Disabled World, problems with mobility devices are on the rise. In 2008, more than 100,000 Americans were injured while using a wheelchair, cane, walker or scooter. These means of assisted transportation are called mobility devices. The amount of people who have been injured while using mobility devices has doubled in the past 10 years. Below is a breakdown of some of the most common mobility devices and their uses.
A walking stick or a cane is generally for people who are still very mobile except for a minor limitation on one leg or the other. A cane or walking stick should be measured by a professional. Usually, it should come up to about the knuckle on the thumb. If it's too short or too long, it could do more harm than good. If the patients have balance issues, they should opt for a cane with four tips.
A walker is one step up from a cane and should be used if one leg is extremely limited or if there is great pain or limitations in both legs. Like a cane, a walker should be positioned by a medical professional so it is the right height. Walkers are often relied on if a person has a great risk of falling, as a walker might not be stable enough to prevent falls. If the patients rely on the walker for balance and have to lean on it, a walker with two wheels is best.
Scooters have boomed in popularity in the past decade and offer a more mobile alternative to the wheelchair. A scooter should be used by people whose lower body cannot hold up even using a walker, but who have more mobility in their upper body. Also, a scooter can be used if people have limited use of their lower body but their legs need a break.
Wheelchairs are reserved for those with the most mobility problems. Someone who loses complete function of a lower limb will benefit from using a wheelchair. Because of its size and bulkiness, though, home modifications or a caregiver are often needed for a person with a wheelchair.
Based on a mobility study from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, more than 19 million Americans use a mobility device or have difficulties walking. And that 19 million figure does not include people in institutions or nursing homes. That's more than 10 percent of the adult population in America.
Mobility problems, whether caused by a disability or just old age, may turn daily tasks into difficult torment. That's why it's important for people with mobility issues to understand the devices out there that may aid them in their fight against mobility problems.
According to Disabled World, problems with mobility devices are on the rise. In 2008, more than 100,000 Americans were injured while using a wheelchair, cane, walker or scooter. These means of assisted transportation are called mobility devices. The amount of people who have been injured while using mobility devices has doubled in the past 10 years. Below is a breakdown of some of the most common mobility devices and their uses.
A walking stick or a cane is generally for people who are still very mobile except for a minor limitation on one leg or the other. A cane or walking stick should be measured by a professional. Usually, it should come up to about the knuckle on the thumb. If it's too short or too long, it could do more harm than good. If the patients have balance issues, they should opt for a cane with four tips.
A walker is one step up from a cane and should be used if one leg is extremely limited or if there is great pain or limitations in both legs. Like a cane, a walker should be positioned by a medical professional so it is the right height. Walkers are often relied on if a person has a great risk of falling, as a walker might not be stable enough to prevent falls. If the patients rely on the walker for balance and have to lean on it, a walker with two wheels is best.
Scooters have boomed in popularity in the past decade and offer a more mobile alternative to the wheelchair. A scooter should be used by people whose lower body cannot hold up even using a walker, but who have more mobility in their upper body. Also, a scooter can be used if people have limited use of their lower body but their legs need a break.
Wheelchairs are reserved for those with the most mobility problems. Someone who loses complete function of a lower limb will benefit from using a wheelchair. Because of its size and bulkiness, though, home modifications or a caregiver are often needed for a person with a wheelchair.
Based on a mobility study from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, more than 19 million Americans use a mobility device or have difficulties walking. And that 19 million figure does not include people in institutions or nursing homes. That's more than 10 percent of the adult population in America.
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