According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are an estimated 1.3 billion people (16% of the global population) who experience a significant disability and about 80 million people need wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are used for many different reasons, including the elderly, injuries, and diseases. Whether it’s permanent or temporary, there are many disabilities that require a wheelchair.
Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI)
A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the bundle of nerves and nerve fibers that sends and receives signals from the brain. The spinal cord extends from the lower part of the brain down through the lower back. Spinal cord injuries are caused by damage to the spinal cord directly or to the bones that surround the spinal cord. A shocking blow, gunshot, or knife to the spine can fracture, dislocate, crush, or compress one or more of the vertebrae. There are also other results of damage to the spine that isn’t from trauma. These include cancer, arthritis, inflammation, infections, or disk deterioration.
SCI can be categorized in two different ways, one being an incomplete injury and the other being a complete injury. An incomplete injury means individuals still have little feeling, function, and control of the muscles below the area of the injury. The spinal cord is still able to send and receive messages from the brain. On the contrary, a complete injury is where there is no communication between the brain and the nerves. All functions below the injury are gone. Comfortable wheelchairs are especially necessary when there is a complete injury. Patients can be paralyzed, experience numbness and tingling, pain in their body, and more.
Cerebral Palsy (CP)
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of neurological disorders that occur in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement and muscle coordination. CP is caused by abnormalities developing in the brain, typically before birth. Individuals with CP are not able to control their movement or maintain balance and posture. Several mobility challenges are associated with CP, such as having stiff or floppy muscle tone variations and weakness in the arms and legs. People experience difficulty with small movements like writing or buttoning clothes.
Those with CP will benefit from using a wheelchair in many ways. Individuals who do not have any issues with using their arms to push should look into manual wheelchairs. Electric wheelchairs are a better option for those with limited muscle strength and coordination issues and only need to be operated with a button. Those who suffer from shoulder stamina and flexibility and diminished upper limb mobility should look into mobility scooters or power-operated vehicles (POV). These are normally more comfortable with cushioned seating and have handlebars to turn in different directions.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is also another type of disability that sometimes requires a wheelchair. MS is a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system. MS is an autoimmune disorder that damages the myelin sheath, which protects nerve cells. Just like with every disability, some are more severe than others. MS symptoms differ for every individual, depending on the location and severity of nerve fiber damage. This disability impacts mobility over time, as some may lose the ability to walk independently or move at all. Wheelchairs may be needed to aid in managing MS symptoms when the illness progresses. Wheelchairs can support individuals with problems such as fatigue, weakness in their limbs, lack of coordination, and vertigo.
Muscular Dystrophy (MD)
Muscular dystrophy is a group of over 30 genetic (inherited) conditions that affect muscle function, in which the the symptoms worsen over time. A few common forms of muscular dystrophy include:
- Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). This affects mostly assigned male children at birth, which affects the heart and lungs.
- Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD). This typically affects males and can occur at any age between 5 and 60, but it normally develops in the teenage years. This type increases muscle weakness over time.
- Myotonic dystrophy. This type is the most common and is diagnosed in both female and male adults. These individuals have trouble relaxing their muscles after using them. This condition can also affect the heart and lungs and cause thyroid disease and diabetes.
- Congenital muscular dystrophies (CMD). CMD is overall muscle weakness with possible joint stiffness or looseness that occurs at or around the time of birth. Scoliosis, breathing issues, intellectual and learning disabilities, and eye issues or seizures may also be circumstances involved with CMD.
In most cases, individuals inherit the genetic mutation from one or both of their biological parents. Because muscular dystrophy tends to get more severe over time, wheelchairs will be of great assistance to maintain independence. When experiencing trouble walking, running, climbing stairs, and tightened muscles, tendons, and skin, it will be beneficial to use a wheelchair.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a neurological disorder that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement and breathing. ALS is progressive, and over time, some people may lose the ability to walk, talk, chew, and even breathe. Muscle control and mobility are affected by ALS. Many experience muscle twitches, cramps, spasticity, and weakness. Wheelchairs play a big role in people with ALS, as they might need to spend most of their time in one. A comfortable wheelchair with complex features such as a reclining sports seat, adjustable armrest and headrest, and lift features will be a top-notch option.
Spina Bifida
Spina bifida is a type of neural tube defect that involves the incomplete development of the spine. During the first month of pregnancy, damage is caused to the spinal cord and nerves when the neural tube doesn’t close completely. Some of the bones of the spine do not close in the back. It’s unknown what truly causes this disorder, but genetics, nutrition, and environmental factors could all possibly play a role.
Mobility challenges associated with spina bifida are all different based on the extremity. Individuals who have a level of spina bifida closer to their head might be paralyzed on the lower part of their body. Others may have weakness of the legs and difficulty with bowel and bladder control. People who struggle with spina bifida have different forms of help that can improve their quality of life. Some don’t need any assistance with walking, whereas others may need braces, crutches, walkers, or wheelchairs.
Polio
The first record of Poliomyelitis (Polio) dates back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries. However, a huge outbreak killed thousands of people between 1948 and 1955 in the United States, being one of the most feared diseases in the country. From 1988 to before, there were around 350,000 wild poliovirus cases. The first successful vaccine was created by US physician Jonas Salk in 1955, and then soon after, in the 1960s, Albert Sabin developed an oral polio vaccine (OPV). The current status of polio today is low risk, with only 6 reported cases in 2021.
Polio greatly affects children under 5 years old. The virus is transmitted from person to person. It spreads mainly through the fecal-oral route or by contaminated water or food, which then multiplies in the intestine. This disrupts the nervous system and can cause paralysis. Long-term effects on mobility occur in post-polio syndrome (PPS) survivors, which can be from 15-40 years later after the infection. Those with PPS can endure many health issues, such as muscle weakness, joint pain, and physical and mental fatigue. Those who can’t move parts of the body or experience weakness in the arms or legs will most likely need a wheelchair.
Arthritis (Severe cases)
Arthritis refers to the swelling and tenderness of one or more joints. Most people experience joint pain and stiffness, which normally worsen over the years. The two common types of arthritis that may require wheelchair use include osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis normally occurs in the knees, hands and wrists, hips, feet and ankles, shoulders, and lower back. The pain, inflammation, and weakness from this disease impact mobility, so a wheelchair might be necessary. Wheelchairs are beneficial to these individuals as they put less strain on the joints, allow for independence, and conserve energy.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is normally caused by a forceful blow or jolt to the head or body. Bullets or other objects that go through the brain tissue can result in traumatic brain injury. Brain cells may be temporarily affected in mild cases. In more critical cases, there may be bruising, torn tissues, bleeding, and other physical damage to the brain. Many people with TBI deal with vertigo, weakness in the arms, legs, or face, and other mobility impairments. Wheelchairs are recommended for TBI patients as it can never be predicted when a fall or dizziness will occur. TBIs can be permanent or temporary, and wheelchairs can help the patient during the rehabilitation process.
Stroke
A stroke is a life-threatening condition that takes place when part of the brain doesn’t have enough blood flow. It’s normally caused by bleeding in the brain or a blocked artery. Stokes occur in both children and adults, but it’s more common for people over the age of 65. The impact of mobility in strokes includes loss of coordination, dizziness, fainting, vertigo, and more.
The recovery of a stroke will differ depending on the severity and can take years for some people. Most of the time, recovery begins in the hospital and then continues at home or at a local doctor’s office. Some types of rehabilitation include speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and cognitive therapy. Long-term effects of a stroke include psychological problems, cognitive impact, movement issues, communication problems, and more. Wheelchairs are valuable in stroke rehabilitation and long-term care. If an individual is experiencing mobility functions such as movement problems or had surgery to help the stroke, then a wheelchair will be a must.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, disabilities are always going to be around, whether being born with it or developed later on in life. Every type of disability is unique and can be a challenging recovery depending on the damage that was caused. There are many disabilities that require a wheelchair, and those who need it will appreciate the impact it has on their overall well-being.
