Most people don’t think too much about personal mobility, they just get up and walk wherever they want! But for those who find getting around a problem, what are the alternatives?

We tend to think that mobility problems are only associated with the last years of life, but that is not entirely true. Many otherwise healthy people have trouble getting around, sometimes as a temporary problem, although of course there are people for whom the problem is practically permanent. So what aids are available for those who are suddenly experiencing mobility problems or for those who now find it a real problem to move?

Before exploring the alternatives, it should be noted that the use of a mobility aid does not make you a ‘disabled’ or a ‘geriatric’, two terms, one of derogation and another that is used more frequently as not as a dismissal , which are simply not acceptable. No, using a mobility aid only means that you have accepted a problem. Maybe that problem is as simple as a sprained ankle, maybe it’s something much more serious like multiple sclerosis. Either way, once you have accepted that life has changed in some way, you will be much closer to accepting the help that a mobility aid can provide.

In its simplest form, a mobility aid can be a cane. Maybe that knee you broke in sports years ago has decided that it will remind you that you are no longer twenty, or maybe that ankle you twisted last week makes walking painful. A cane is a great mobility aid – it takes some of the weight off your knees, helps you balance, and doesn’t cost much.

I bet you’ve seen people whiz past you in the street on those little three- or four-wheeled scooters. What are they about? They’re just really just an advance on the cane, taking weight off for a while. They allow you to go shopping without worrying if your knee, ankle or hip will give you up. Especially useful if you can easily walk just a short distance, they can be purchased or increasingly offered in larger stores and malls with a free loan while you are there. Many people find that, having experienced its practicality and ease of use, they want one of their own and just go out and buy one!

But what if you can’t afford a mobility scooter or just don’t want one? Perhaps a rollator is the answer. Once only very old and frail people used them, they are now used by many people who appreciate their lightness and convenience, especially since many of these types of mobility aids have a built-in seat! Taking up little space in the back of a car, they can be carried virtually anywhere, allowing the user to reach places that were previously too difficult to walk. Some also fold into an even smaller space than you think possible, which means they can go almost anywhere with you.

But what other alternatives are there? Well, for those whose mobility problems are probably more chronic, the traditional wheelchair has been the answer. However, the wheelchair has evolved! Okay, it’s still basically a wheelchair equipped, but it’s now available in a wide range of weights, designs, and styles. There are even models with reclining backrests and headrests for people with mobility problems in the upper body. In the field of electric wheelchair design, the combinations are also very varied, from models that resemble a basic wheelchair equipped with an electric motor to models that look like a lounge chair on wheels. Rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, centralized driving – sounds more like a car types ad than a mobility aid (though I guess that’s all a car is, really!). The point is, there is something for everyone who needs to make their “scrolling” that little bit easier.

In summary, I hope that this short article has made anyone with mobility problems think a little more about ways to improve their daily life, because that is what a mobility aid is, an aid that allows you to get on with your life. and enjoy it to the fullest. much more!