Regaining Lost Mobility and Independence with Assistive Devices

Lost mobility can take a significant toll on your quality of life. Simple activities like attending church, going out to lunch with friends, buying groceries or taking a walk through the neighborhood may become impossible without someone else’s help.

But for many people with mobility issues, it doesn’t have to be this way. There are devices – including canes and walkers – that can help compensate for mobility challenges and help you maintain your independence and enjoy time with family and friends.

There are many causes of lost mobility, including:

• Chronic health conditions: Arthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions can create a range of mobility-reducing symptoms, including joint pain, stiffness, nerve damage and limited stamina.
• Age-related bone loss and muscle weakness: It’s natural for your body to lose muscle mass while your bones become more fragile. This makes movement more challenging and falls more likely.
• Neurological conditions: Parkinson’s disease, stroke, brain injury and other neurological conditions can affect equilibrium and balance.

Often, these conditions develop slowly, creating the opportunity to delay, or at least soften, their impact on your life. Let’s look at the options.

• Canes. These are often used when someone has a mild instability. This could include having weakness or pain in one of your legs, or not being able to use of both arms (after a stroke, for example). Learning to use a cane can take time, so you may benefit from working with a physical therapist for proper fitting and use.
• Walkers. There are many types of walkers, including no-wheel, two-wheel and four-wheel versions. Walkers without wheels are better for transfers but walking is less smooth, since you have to pick them up with each step. Walkers with two front wheels are quite stable and allow for smooth walking. Four-wheeled walkers are often equipped with seats, making them a great option for people who need to stop frequently to rest. A physical therapist can help you determine which style is best for you.
• Wheelchairs. If you have difficulty walking, a wheelchair can help you remain active. As with walkers, there are different versions. A transport wheelchair is lightweight but not very sturdy. They also have smaller wheels, which will prevent you from propelling yourself with your hands. The standard manual wheelchairs – like the ones you see at medical facilities – can be self-propelled or pushed. There are custom wheelchairs for people who will spend a great deal of time in one. There are also motorized wheelchairs for people who cannot propel a manual chair.

Of course, using one of these devices is a change from what you’ve always done. And not everyone is comfortable in the beginning. It can be frustrating to not be able to walk and move the way you used to. But don’t let that resistance to change get in the way of enjoying your life.

You may not even need one of these devices all the time. It may be something you get out when you are feeling particularly tired or are experiencing more pain. You can put it away on those days when you feel stronger or are moving better.

In the end, these choices are yours. You can stay at home or rely on others to help you get around. Or you can use one of these assistive devices to go out to dinner, spend time with your grandchildren or take part in your favorite community activity. A cane, walker or wheelchair can open (or reopen) a world of opportunities for you.

Content is not AI generated.