As we get older, it’s more likely than not that we will lose some of our mobility. A loss of mobility is common with age, as joints stiffen, muscles are more likely to become injured, and we, as a whole, simply become more fragile. Chronic and degenerative conditions also become commons, such conditions like osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is common among those over the age of sixty five, and more than one fifth of those who use a cane as a mobility aid to improve mobility do so because they suffer from limited mobility.
Unfortunately, this reduced mobility can lead to more dangers posed to those who suffer from it and are looking to improve mobility. As we grow older and lose this mobility, we become more likely to sustain falls. As at least half of all falls occur within the home environment, they are likely to lead to more serious complications as the person who has fallen is not always able to promptly seek help.
If you are an elderly adult in the United States, you have about a twenty five percent chance of falling in just one year. In fact, in that same span of time, millions of senior citizens are seen in emergency rooms all around the country for injuries that are related to falls. These injuries range from minor to severe, but an injured elderly person in seen in an emergency room just over every ten seconds, because of an injury related to a fall.
For the elderly who find themselves prone to falls, which can occur from dizziness and general instability as we age, a lack of independence can seem imminent as they (and their family members) no longer feel safe with them living alone at home. This can be devastating, but it can often be prevented. Fortunately, mobility aids can often be used to improve mobility.
Though there are many ways to improve mobility, the most common mobility aid is by and large the functional cane. Canes and walking sticks come in many varieties and are used by elderly people over the age of sixty five all throughout the country. In fact, by the time the average person turns eighty five, they are likely to be using some type of mobility aid to improve mobility, and that mobility aid is likely to be a cane of some sort. Currently, nearly seven million Americans use a cane or other mobility aid for various reasons as well as to improve mobility. Of these Americans, nearly five million use a cane as their chosen form of aid.
Canes come in all different types, from stylish walking sticks to wooden canes with intricate carvings. Canes do not need to be unfashionable and many people, particularly disabled young people who use a cane as a mobility aid, come to consider their cane not only as a way to improve mobility, but as a fashion statement in and of itself. Decorative canes are also common, and canes can come in a variety of materials and colors, depending on the specifications of the cane user.
There are many ways to improve mobility, and improving mobility can improve the safety and independence of the person in need of it. Without canes and other mobility aids, many elderly people in the United States would be unable to remain as independent as they would like, as they would be a danger to themselves without the use of a mobility aid. Mobility aids, particularly canes, which are used by millions of Americans every single day, can help to restore that independence and protect it even for years down the line.
