Unicorn Roots

When most people hear the phrase “mobility disability,” the first image that comes to mind is typically someone in a wheelchair or forearm crutches. But this image only represents a small portion of people with mobility disabilities. Many people don’t consider those with temporary mobility conditions, progressive disabilities, or disabilities with fluctuating symptoms. However, this lack of awareness isn’t too surprising, given our society’s depiction of mobility and disability.

What “Mobility Disability” Means

The easiest way to define mobility disability is to first define mobility. Simply put, mobility is the “ability to move purposefully as you go through your day.” This ability depends on stamina, strength, balance, coordination, flexibility, and range of motion. When any of these areas are impaired, or there is a significant disability here, everyday tasks like getting in and out of bed, showering, or carrying groceries, become harder (Marshall, 2022).

Between 12% and 14% of Americans have some form of mobility impairment, and nearly half of all US seniors experience some mobility loss. Yet many people don’t really give mobility a second thought until a lack of it becomes impossible to ignore. Though even these facts and definitions don’t fully explain the complexity of this category of disabilities. Mobility exists on a complicated spectrum. Some disabilities are inherited, while others are acquired. Many neurological conditions and disabilities are also mobility disabilities or can lead to them (Marshall, 2022; Rung, 2024; Taylor & Stanton, 2020). For example:

• Parkinson’s disease is the progressive degeneration of the brain’s basal ganglia, reducing motor coordination. 
• Cerebral Palsy (CP), resulting from the temporary loss of oxygen to a developing brain, is a non-progressive loss of muscle control and can potentially lead to seizures, spasms, intellectual disabilities, decreased physical sensation and perception, impaired speech, and/or vision and hearing impairments.
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the result of the immune system attacking the myelin sheaths on nerve fibers, leading to degenerative paralysis, blindness, deafness, and/or mental deterioration.
• Huntington’s disease is an inherited disease that causes physical and psychological deterioration, loss of motor function, muscle spasms, personality changes, and more.
• Polio, also known as poliomyelitis, is a highly infectious virus that attacks motor neurons, preventing necessary nerve impulses from reaching the appropriate parts of the body. This can lead to anything from decreased motor function in the limbs to full-body paralysis.

These are only a few examples of mobility disabilities and conditions that we know of (Taylor & Stanton, 2020).

Treatment & Management Options

Because mobility disabilities vary so widely, treatment and management options must be tailored to the individual’s needs. Each condition, whether temporary or permanent, will come with its own set of symptoms and treatment options. Some of these treatment options may include the following:

• Surgery
• Mobility aids
• Prosthetics
• Sensory aids
• Physical rehabilitation
• Retraining at home
• Exercise plans
• Allopathic medications
• Seizure prevention methods
• Specialized therapies
• Follow-up care for complications
• Special education plans
• Service animals
• Support services from a trained professional 
• Combinations of the above

(Sherrell, 2024)

Some conditions will require significant home, work, and school accommodations like grab bars, accessible parking, ramps, joysticks and/or trackballs, accessible tech, and more (Rung, 2024). It’s helpful to note that with some inherited disabilities, genetic testing may be available to help prevent or prepare for the onset of a heritable condition (Taylor & Stanton, 2020). However, people with mobility disabilities aren’t always the only ones who need to remember to manage their health challenges.

Caregivers can also put their own health at risk due to the high levels of stress, lost wages, and other requirements. For this reason, support groups and other healthcare maintenance should be considered for caregivers. Gender biases, discrepancies, and social stigmas may also be factors in these situations. Women are less likely to receive adequate support for chronic disabilities and are more likely to be institutionalized than their male counterparts. Children with chronic disabilities can also develop a range of psychological challenges, such as depression, low self-esteem, jealousy, and guilt, which may stem from a belief that they’re being punished or left out. Physical exercise and therapy can help a lot with these feelings when they occur in both adults and children (Taylor & Stanton, 2020).

Common Allopathic Approaches

There’s no doubt that exercise is important, even when it’s challenging. For those with mobility disabilities, guidelines recommend 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week, with strength and balance training twice a week. However, doing anything that increases the heart rate will be beneficial to some degree (Marshall, 2022).

Using specific mobility aids often makes exercise possible for those with mobility disabilities. These aids include:

• Standard canes and quad-canes to provide stability and support for the lower limbs
• Forearm, Lofstrand, and platform crutches, which are most commonly used by those with more long-term disabilities, place the forearm into a plastic or metal cuff with a hand grip below to offer more support and greater weight distribution
• Walkers (or zimmer frames), rollators, and manual or electric wheelchairs often provide similar support to those with limited or no mobility in their lower body
• White canes help those with significant vision loss sense their surroundings in place of visible cues, while also making others aware of this need
• Underarm (axillary) crutches and knee walkers, most commonly used by those with short-term injuries in much the same way as forearm crutches while the body heals
• Service animals may also be trained to perform mobility, guiding, and/or alerting tasks for those with mobility disabilities

(Leonard, 2017)

Yes, And…

Long-term or permanent mobility disabilities often require specific home modifications, including ramps, stair lifts, handrails, and other accessibility features. At the same time, these changes and modifications can also benefit abled-bodied people and those with fewer accessibility needs. Those with conditions like arthritis, diabetes, heart and lung issues, visual impairments, and those like myself with developmental disabilities and epilepsy can all benefit here. However, it’s also important to remember that improper use of mobility aids can risk other injuries like crutch paralysis from excessive pressure on the nerves in the armpit. This is why it’s important to learn about the proper use of each device and modification before using them on your own (Leonard, 2017).

For businesses and rental properties, taking small steps to make everything more accessible can make a big difference. Ramps and automatic doors, widened hallways and doors with low or ramp-like thresholds, grab bars in bathrooms, and adding a few lower or more accessible facilities can help people with all types of mobility disabilities. Adjustable desks, chairs, and other equipment, coupled with accessible technology, can also help in work and school environments (Sherrell, 2024).

It’s also important to remember that negative emotions can exacerbate poor health, mimic poor health, and even hide symptoms. This is why it’s so important to consider the influence of mental health when building a treatment plan or making changes in your environment. Making a solid effort to increase positive emotions wherever possible can boost immune and physical health, which helps to boost overall resilience (Taylor & Stanton, 2020). 

Unfortunately, many people come to believe that their condition was caused or triggered by a potentially avoidable or stressful situation, often leading them to blame family and friends, including themselves. Learning to adapt and potentially gain new skills may be necessary to maintain independence and keep working. In some cases, this may be the only way to keep vital medical insurance current. Some people with newly acquired disabilities or diagnoses may also find that others start to treat them differently. Where others used to treat them as equals, infantilization and casual disregard may become more noticeable. Micro-aggressions and casual jokes may start to become apparent. Luckily, many forms of therapy can help considerably with recovery and learning to cope with this new way of approaching daily life (Taylor & Stanton, 2020).

Herbal Options

Mistletoe Viscum album 

Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that grows on the branches of certain trees. Generally considered poisonous and potentially deadly, the right dosages administered by a professional can help the cardiovascular and immune systems. In the correct dosages, mistletoe can be useful for conditions like Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) or Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), which affect blood pressure or immune function (Petersen, 2013).

Olive Olea europaea 

Olive can be used in its many forms, both internally and externally, for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hypoglycemic, and immune-boosting qualities. It can be used as integrative medicine for immune disorders, digestive issues, skin conditions, and many other conditions and complications associated with mobility disabilities. However, olive should not be used where gallstones are present (Petersen, 2013). That said, I have personally found that olive oil makes a fantastic carrier oil, lending its benefits to other preparations while simultaneously acting as a delivery method for medicinal preparations.

Hawthorn Crataegus spp.

Hawthorn is actually a genus of small trees and bushes, with a few key species being medicinally beneficial. Generally taken orally, hawthorn can act as a cardiotonic, vasodilator, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial, antispasmodic, diuretic, and sedative. To name just a few of the many conditions it has helped with, it has been used internally for congestive heart failure, conditions affecting circulation, arrhythmia, hypo- and hypertension, gastrointestinal conditions, as well as topically for boils, sores, and ulcers. However, some contraindications can include nausea, gastrointestinal issues, sweating, and fatigue. It can also interact with some medications and is not safe to use during pregnancy (Petersen, 2013).

Many other herbs can also help with symptoms such as dry skin, bruises, sores, muscle soreness, and others common in those with mobility disabilities. A licensed herbalist or naturopath can help determine what is appropriate and safe, tailoring an herbal regimen specifically to their client’s needs. However, when speaking with your practitioner, it’s often helpful to specify what your goals are and what other treatments and medications you are currently using. It may not be easy, but holistic healing is possible.

References:

Leonard, J. (2017). What Types of Mobility Aids Are Available?. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318463

Marshall, M. (2022). Mobility. Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu/topics/mobility

NORD (2021). Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. National Organization of Rare Disorders. https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/ehlers-danlos-syndrome/

Petersen, D. (2013). Herbal Materia Medica I. Herb 302. Portland, OR: American College of Healthcare Sciences.

Rung, R. (2024). Mobility Disability and Benefits. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-considered-a-mobility-disability

Sherrell, Z. (2024). Mobility Disabilities List. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/mobility-disabilities-list

Taylor, S. & Stanton, A.L. (2020). Chapter 10. Health Psychology (11th ed). McGraw Hill. ISBN: 9781260253900