Common Causes for Limited Mobility in Senior Citizens

What is Limited Mobility?

Limited mobility refers to the inability to move on your own, or having to become dependent on others to do your basic, daily chores. These include simple tasks such as being able to walk to the restroom, dress, brush yourself, etc.

There are various degrees of limited mobility. While some people may only struggle to walk long distances, others may be unable to move their bodies.

Causes

Here are some of the common causes that lead to limited mobility:

● Arthritis

Arthritis is a degenerative disease that affects majority of the adult population of 60 and above, in some or the other form. This disease attacks the joints, causing pain and stiffness, thereby reducing mobility.

To improve the quality of life for seniors with arthritis, it is important to stay active as much as possible, keep a check on the weight and use the right medication to reduce the inflammation of the joints.

● Osteoporosis

This bone disease reduces bone density, which in turn makes the bones of the elderly susceptible to breaks and fractures. Many older adults with osteoporosis tend to make it worse for themselves by avoiding activity, fearing a fall or accident. This in turn leads to further weakening of the muscles that support the bones and joints due to the heightened inactivity.

● Neuromuscular issues

Neuromuscular conditions affect the nerves that control voluntary muscles, especially those in the legs. The weakening of these muscles is normally associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) or muscular dystrophy (MD) and other neuromuscular conditions that contribute to imbalance and instability in a person.

To improve the quality of life, regular physical activity and using devices that can assist with mobility are the possible solutions.

● Ear-related Imbalance

Mobility issues have been seen in many older adults due to issues with balance related to the inner ear. The most common balance disorders that affect the body parts are caused by peripheral vestibular dysfunctions as in Meniere’s disease. In such cases, balance can only be restored after proper diagnosis and treatment.

● Cognitive disorders

As a part of ageing process, adults may suffer from symptoms of dementia, like Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease. This makes it harder for the individual to control their bodies, even for the basic everyday tasks.

● Cardiovascular conditions

Seniors living with heart ailments can have several issues with moving around because of their inability to walk even short distances without feeling dizzy or breathless. In such cases, quality of life can be improved by taking prescribed medication timely, and avoiding alcohol and smoking.

● Obesity

While obesity is a concern for all age groups, it is more of a concern for older age groups. This is because if senior citizens are over-weight, it puts more pressure on the musculoskeletal system which in turn causes pain and stress thereby affecting mobility. Secondly, obesity can also contribute to other issues like osteoarthritis and diabetes, which can further reduce mobility. To improve the quality of life, overweight adults should be encouraged to increase their physical activity, and change their dietary habits by consuming more and more vegetables, fruits and fish.