Types of Physical/Mobility Impairments

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What is a Physical/Mobility Impairment?

A Physical impairment refers to a condition that affects a person’s mobility, physical capacity, stamina, or dexterity. It may result from injury, illness, or congenital conditions that limit movement or physical functioning of the body.

In South Africa, physical impairments include conditions such as spinal cord injuries, amputations, muscular dystrophy, arthritis, and limb deformities. They can also include conditions that have both physical and neurological components, such as Cerebral Palsy, which affects muscle control, coordination, and posture due to damage to parts of the brain that control movement. These impairments can vary widely in severity and may be temporary or permanent, visible or invisible.

There are a number of organisations within South Africa that assist and support these disability groups.

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What Are You Looking For?

1. Absent Limb/Reduced Limb Function
2. Arthritis
3. Cauda Equina Syndrome
4. Cerebral Palsy
5. Guliian-Barre Syndrome
6. Hemiplegia
7. Motor Neuron Disease|MND
8. Multiple Sclerosis | MS
9. Muscular Dystrophy | MD
10. Paralysis of the Face
11. Parkinson’s Disease
12. Polio
13. Spinal Cord Injuries – Paraplegia | Quadriplegia | Tetraplegia
14. Stroke

  • Logo of Ann Harding Cheshire Homes, providing care and support for people with physical disabilities in South Africa
  • This is the logo for Casa ilanga Guesthouse - an accessible Guesthouse
  • This is the logo for Wheelchairs on the Run - specialist in mobility aids
  • This is the logo for Shonaquip Social Enterprise - enabling inclusion
  • Smart Service Dog - Changing lives one dog at a time
  • This is the logo for Solutions Medical - Mobility specialists
  • Edit Microsystems Logo - helping you learn
  • This is the logo of Bradshaw LeRoux, Disability Inclusion Specialists
  • Logo of CE Mobility - Wheelchair and Seating specialists
  • This is the logo for VoQol - voice-activated automation
  • Mobility Aids - Provide mobility solutions
  • Promobility logo - supplier of homecare and mobility aids
  • This is the logo for Sitwell Technologies - creators of unique, personalised mobility solutions
  • This is the logo for Shoprider - specialists in mobility and mobility solutions
  • Be-Able Solutions logo - invested in making life easier
  • Logo for DAATS - suppliers of medical and mobility aid equipment
  • Logo for Lidia Pretorius, Disability Empowerment Coach
  • Honey's Garden For Medical Alert Dogs and task trained service dogs for persons with disabilities
  • Sheer Mobility - Bringing affordability to mobility
  • Logo of Mr Mobility - Mobility Solutions.
  • Logo of the QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA) website
  • Sensory Solutions Logo
  • Link to the National Council of Persons with Disabilities
  • PHARMA Southern Africa
  • logo for Paws 4 Life - a specialised K9 Training facility in the Western Cape
  • This is the logo for SkyJacks - they offer a comprehensive range of access and lifting equipment and related services.

Types of Physical ‘Disabilities’

Simply Click On Your Area Of Interest Below To Learn More

Absent/Reduced Limb

Congenital or acquired loss or impairment of limb structure or function, affecting mobility, strength, coordination, and daily activities.

Arthritis

Inflammatory or degenerative joint condition causing pain, stiffness, swelling, reduced movement, and functional limitations over time, often progressive.

Cauda Equina Syndrome

Serious neurological condition where spinal nerve compression causes lower limb weakness, sensory loss, bladder, bowel, and sexual dysfunction.

Cerebral Palsy

Group of non-progressive neurological disorders affecting movement, posture, muscle tone, and coordination due to early brain injury, developmental.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Autoimmune neurological disorder where immune system attacks peripheral nerves, causing rapid weakness, paralysis, and sensory disturbances, often reversible.

Hemiplegia

Paralysis affecting one side of the body, commonly resulting from stroke, brain injury, or neurological disease conditions events

Motor Neurone Disease

Progressive neurological disease that damages the motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness, wasting, paralysis, and eventual loss of function mobility.

Multiple Sclerosis

A chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, disrupting nerve signals and causing varied physical, sensory, cognitive symptoms episodes.

Muscular Dystrophy

Chronic autoimmune disease affecting central nervous system, disrupting nerve signals and causing varied physical, sensory, cognitive symptoms episodes.

Paralysis of the Face

Loss of voluntary facial muscle movement as a result of nerve damage, affecting expression, speech, eating, and eye closure control..

Parkinson’s Disease

Progressive neurological disorder affecting movement, causing tremors, stiffness, slowed motion, balance difficulties, and reduced coordination over time gradually.

Polio

Viral infectious disease that can damage nerves, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, and long-term physical disability in survivors.

spinal Cord Injuries

Any damage to the spinal cord resulting in loss of movement, sensation, or autonomic function below the injury level often permanent.

Stroke

Sudden interruption of blood supply to the brain, causing neurological damage affecting movement, speech, cognition, or sensation abilities.

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While we strive for accuracy and clarity, AI-generated visuals may not always reflect real-life conditions or representations.
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In addition, we feature authentic images and videos of actual instances, events, circumstances that have occurred, as well as products and services supplied by companies who advertise with us.

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Simplified Summary

The Types of Physical Impairments page explains the different kinds of physical disabilities and how they can affect a person’s movement, coordination, and daily functioning.