What Causes Mobility Impairment?

Mobility impairment is a disability affecting a person’s ability to move. Depending on the severity, mobility impairments range from stamina limitations to paralysis.

The presence of certain conditions at birth can cause mobility impairment. However, it can also be caused by illness or even physical injury.

Check out a few of the more common conditions that can cause mobility impairment:

Absent Limbs
A person can have missing limbs as a result of the following:
Birth defects
Injury or accident
Amputation due to diseases such as diabetes

Arthritis
Arthritis is a joint disorder. It causes inflammation to the affected joints.

There are various forms of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and septic arthritis.

An individual with arthritis is likely to experience constant pain on the affected joint due to the inflammation.

Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is best described as brain paralysis. This condition occurs as a result of damage to the areas of the brain controlling motor functions.

When these areas of the brain are not functioning properly, it can also cause an individual to have cerebral palsy.

The damage and dysfunction can be caused by illness, injury or trauma. It can be hereditary, as well.

Spina Bifida
Spina bifida is a disorder that causes the spinal cord and nerves to form on the surface of an infant’s back instead of inside a canal of bone protected by muscles.

Physical disabilities caused by spina bifida include paralysis, hydrocephalus, difficulties in learning and a deformed spine.

Muscular Dystrophy
Muscular dystrophy is a hereditary progressive disease that weakens and limits the movement of muscles.

Skeletal and voluntary muscles control the movements of legs, trunk, head and arms. The disease damages these muscles, limiting the movement of the limbs.

Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis affects the central nervous system when an individual’s immune response affects the nervous system. As a result, demyelination, which damages the protective sheath of neurons, occurs.

Paralysis
Paralysis is a condition that makes an individual lose control their muscles. It occurs as a result of a damaged spinal cord or nervous system.

Paralysis can be either complete or partial. However, both cases can negatively impact a patient’s independence.

Heart Defects
Heart defects like congenital heart disease usually are problems with the heart structure present at birth.

Different heart defect problems have different symptoms and signs. However, some of the commonly experienced signs include fatigue, rapid breathing and poor weight gain.

Weakened physical abilities can in turn negatively impact movement.

Stroke
A stroke occurs as a result of an inadequate supply of oxygen to the brain, which causes a sudden loss of consciousness.

Stroke is treatable if the symptoms are identified in time. Otherwise, it can be fatal.

Regardless, lack of oxygen can damage areas of the brain, including those controlling movement.

Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s is a progressive disorder that damages the central nervous system. Tremors and impaired coordination of the muscles are the most common symptoms associated with the disorder.

Polio
Poliomyelitis is infectious, and it is caused by a virus known as polio. The infection is passed through ingesting infected human fecal matter.

The infection is associated with muscle weakness, which affects the patient’s mobility. In most cases, only the leg muscles are affected.