Research shows that 11.1% of American adults have some form of mobility disability. This often results in serious issues with walking and maintaining a safe level of balance.
If you struggle with mobility problems, you may need a physical therapist to help you recover. Mobility issues are more common than the majority of people realize.
This is something that often affects seniors who are starting to become less active and independent. But it can happen to anyone for a variety of reasons.
Keep reading to find out how a physical therapist can help you recover from mobility problems.
What Is a Physical Therapist?
If you want to see a physical therapist, mobility problems provide the perfect reason. Physical therapists, also called PTs, help with rehabilitation treatments.
They are there to guide you through your physical therapy to improve your mobility. They will be there every step of the way to help reduce pain and improve physical function.
Some examples of when you may need a physical therapist are after an injury. Athletes often see a physical therapist in RI if they sustained an injury when playing their sport.
You may also need physical therapy if you have noticed mobility problems. They will help you identify the root of the problem and find therapy solutions suitable for your physical health.
They will assess your current condition and create a treatment plan. From there, you will be working with your physical therapist over the course of weeks or months.
What Are Mobility Problems?
Before starting mobility physical therapy, you need to understand what mobility problems are. This is something that a lot of people don’t really understand, making it difficult to identify.
Mobility is the ability to move around freely and have physical stamina during daily activities. If you have mobility issues, you will struggle to complete ordinary daily tasks.
For instance, you may struggle to get out of bed in the morning without help. Or you may not be able to go downstairs without the fear of falling.
Symptoms of Mobility Issues
If you suspect that you have mobility issues, you may be wondering how to tell. There are some symptoms that could indicate this is something you are struggling with.
It is a good idea to talk about these concerns with your health practitioner. They will be able to give you an assessment and recommend you to a physical therapist.
Leg Weakness
One sign of mobility problems is leg weakness which is abnormal. When you have mobility issues, getting around is often more difficult than people think.
You may be putting more pressure on your legs and feet as you walk around throughout the day. This can result in fatigue and feeling as though your legs aren’t able to move anymore.
Some may even have full-body fatigue that makes it difficult to move around quickly. This is very common since you are having to work harder to do even the most average everyday tasks.
Feet Dragging
You may also notice that your feet start to drag the floor over the course of the day. This cannot be a symptom of leg fatigue as you are working harder to get around.
It may become too much effort to lift your feet to walk, resulting in you shuffling instead. This is not normal and is a clear indication that something is not right.
Balance Issues
Those with mobility issues will experience a variety of problems with their balance. A very obvious sign of this is excessive tripping and stumbling when trying to walk normally.
Some people are more accident-prone than others and have a tendency to trip over their own feet. But this may become excessive and is the result of you losing your balance, not tripping over anything.
It may even get to the point where you are actually falling to the ground. This is especially common in seniors with mobility issues, as they are not able to balance when upright.
You may struggle to stand without moving because you feel like you are swaying. Or you may struggle to have control over your body when you are walking, resulting in the need for assistance.
What Causes Mobility Problems
If you are having issues with your mobility, you probably want to know what created this problem. The reality is that there are a lot of things that can cause this depending on your situation.
For instance, those who are elderly naturally start to have mobility issues. This is very common as their body becomes frailer and they aren’t able to be as independent.
Some people may experience mobility issues because they do not maintain any physical activity. This can cause your body to weaken and not know how to stabilize itself.
This is a good example of a serious lack of core strength, as this is what helps you to balance yourself. People who have been injured can also have mobility issues.
A variety of head injuries can specifically cause this, as your brain helps control your mobility.
Mobility Problems: How a Physical Therapist Can Help
If you are struggling with mobility problems, you may be wondering if a physical therapist can help you. The good news is that a physical therapist will be able to create a plan and help you with your treatment.
Do you want to schedule a consultation with a physical therapist? Contact us today at Speech Physical Therapy to request an appointment with one of our therapists.
