non-ambulatory
- A term used to describe individuals who do not have the ability to ambulate freely and move about without assistance from another person due to chronic neurological diagnoses.
The document provided describes individuals with severe motor impairments due to chronic neurological diagnoses who are non-ambulatory. They typically require assistive devices such as wheelchairs to move around and participate in physical activities. These individuals are often dependent on others for日常生活 and may experience limitations in their mobility and self-care due to their condition. Physical activity is a critical component of healing from strokes and traumatic brain injury. Exercise, which can be provided in a variety of non-ambulatory patients, can aid recovery and facilitate reintegration into society. However, it is challenging to assess the impact of physical activity in this population because of differences in diagnosis-specific characteristics and the presence of motor function.
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The term is often used in connection with Central Nervous System Lesions (CNSL) as non-ambulatory individuals with severe motor impairments are often affected by chronic neurological diseases. These diseases can lead to the loss of function in the upper extremities, such as the ability to write or type. The term is also used to describe individuals with chronic conditions like spina bifida.
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Non-ambulatory subjects may have a significantly diminished ability to move and participate in activities requiring fine motor skills, such as those involved in writing and typing and those requiring the use of the hands. This often results in challenges with basic mobility and self-care tasks.
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For example, individuals with complete spinal cord injury (complete SCI), which is a condition characterized by a complete loss of neurological function below the level of the shoulders, may have extreme limitations in mobility and self-care. Despite these challenges, physical activity is still considered a vital part of management, as it can provide important benefits in terms of improving mood, managing pain, and aiding in the management of psychological conditions.
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While there is significant variation in the severity and nature of motor impairments present in non-ambulatory individuals with severe motor impairments due to chronic neurological diseases, the overall goal of physical activity is to support recovery, improve quality of life, and prevent complications. This goal is often achieved by incorporating activities that encourage the participation of ambulatory patients, such as arm cycling and wheelchair tennis, into the rehabilitation plan.
