Morbidity/ Physically challenged:

Morbidity/ Physically challenged:

Morbidity is another term for illness. A person can have several co-morbidities simultaneously. So, morbidities can range from Alzheimer's disease to cancer to traumatic brain injury. Morbidities are NOT deaths. Prevalence is a measure often used to determine the level of morbidity in a population.

Physically challenged:

·        Physically challenged means -> someone who is physically challenged has a problem with their body that makes it difficult for them to do things that other people can do easily.

·        Many causes and conditions can impair mobility and movement. The inability to use legs, arms, or the body trunk effectively because of paralysis, stiffness, pain, or other impairments is common.

·        It may be the result of birth defects, disease, age, or accidents. These disabilities may change from day to day. They may also contribute to other disabilities such as impaired speech, memory loss, short stature, and hearing loss.

·        People with mobility and movement impairments may find it difficult to participate when facing social and physical barriers. Quite often they are individuals of courage and independence who have a desire to contribute to the fullest level of their ability. Some are totally independent, while others may need part- or full-time assistance.

·        Physical disability may affect, either temporarily or permanently, a person's physical capacity and/or mobility. They include MS, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, brain or spinal cord injury, epilepsy, and muscular dystrophy.

·        A physical disability is one that affects a person's mobility or dexterity.

·        A person with a physical disability may need to use some sort of equipment for assistance with mobility.

·        It also includes people who have lost limbs or who, because of the shape of their body, require slight adaptations to be made to enable them to participate fully in society.

·        Paraplegia and Quadriplegia are what many people first identify with a physical disability.

·        Paraplegia results from injury to the spinal cord, occurring below the neck.

·        quadriplegia refers to damage to the spinal cord in the neck.

·        Varying degrees of loss of limb and other mobility may result from either condition.

Types of Physical Disabilities:

There are two major categories under the Physical Disability Group, they are:

1.Musculo Skeletal Disability

It is defined as the inability to carry out distinctive activities associated with movements of the body parts due to muscular or bony deformities, diseases or degeneration. The disabilities grouped under musculo skeletal disability are:

·        Loss or Deformity of Limbs

·        Osteogensis Imperfecta

·        Muscular Dystrophy

2.Neuro Musculo Disability

It is defined as the inability to perform controlled movements of affected body parts due to diseases, degeneration or disorder of the nervous system. The categories are:

·        Cerebral Palsy

·        Spina Bifida

·        Poliomyelitis

·        Stroke

·        Head Injury

·        Spinal Cord Injury

Details of Musculo Skeletal Disability

Loss or Deformity of Limbs

This may be due to birth defect or may occur due to diseases or accidents. The person may require an artificial limb to compensate the functional loss of activities.

Osteogensis Imperfecta

A defective development of the connective tissues at the growing age that leads to softening of bones and the affected person experiences deformed posture. The person is usually small built with brittle bones. The cause of this condition is unknown but there is a strong hereditary link to it. Such persons are usually active though may require a wheelchair or crutches for mobility.

 Muscular Dystrophy

Progressive loss of muscle strength due to a group of hereditary disorders. Muscles around the neck, shoulders and hips are usually more affected than the other muscle groups. Muscles of the respiratory system are also affected at a later stage. With time the affected person’s functional and mobility status deteriorates and may require a wheelchair for mobility.

Details of Neuro Musculo Disability

Cerebral Palsy

      A group of non-progressive disorders occurring in young children in which damage of the brain causes impairment of motor function. It is caused by birth injury, jaundice and infection. A person with Cerebral Palsy usually has movement and co-ordination problems. The person may have other associated disabilities such as intellectual, behavioral, visual, speech etc. He may need different adaptive equipment and external support for the day to day activities.

 Spina Bifida

     It is due to development defect of the spinal canal, characterised by incomplete closure of the bony encasement of the spinal cord. It may cause paralysis of the lower part of the body depending on the level and extent of the lesion. The person may loose bowel and bladder control and may have sensory loss at the affected side. This person may require a pair of crutches or wheelchair to move around.

Poliomyelitis

  It is an infectious virus disease affecting the lower motor-neuron system. It is caused by the poliovirus and can affect children and adults. It causes weakness in the body and both legs.

The person may require mobility aids and external limb supports for the day to day activities. Recently it has been found that many victims of poliomyelitis experience a second decline of their physical and functional status when they reach around the age of forty.

Stroke

It is caused   by the interruption of blood supply of the central nervous system or due to hemorrhage inside the brain.

The affected person experiences a sudden impairment of the sensory motor functioning of one side of his body.

 This condition may also associate with other disorders like loss of vision, hearing, speech or intellectual functioning. The person may require a walking stick or wheelchair for mobility.

Head Injury

The extend of this disability depends on the part of the brain involved and the severity of the injury. In most cases it leads to a condition called hemiplegia where the sensory and the motor functions of one side of the body are impaired. It may also be associated with other disabling conditions like impairment of vision, hearing, speech or intellectual functioning.

Spinal Cord Injury – two types of disabilities:

 Paraplegia:

Total or partial impairment of the sensory and motor functions in the lower part of the body and lower limbs. In most cases the affected person looses bowel and bladder control and in some occasions experience poor postural control. Depending on the level of injury the affected person may require a crutch, external limb supports or wheelchair for mobility.

Tetraplegia:

Total or partial impairment of the sensory and motor functions of the body including all four limbs. The person looses control over bowel and bladder functions, posture and even in few cases respiratory functioning. The affected person may require different assistive devices to perform daily activities independently.

Treatment For Physical Disabilities

Improvement of the disabling condition depends on the cause, type, extend of the disease, disorder or injury. However, in most cases the physical improvement is seen only in the initial few years of disability. There are few conditions that are progressive type and the treatment goal is to maintain their condition.

Rehabilitation programmes are planned to help individuals to overcome initial unstable conditions and prevent deterioration of the medical condition. The person should also be more conscious with his diet to avoid further deterioration of his medical condition and recurrent of diseases. More importantly, people with disabilities will learn, through rehabilitation programme, to manage their disabilities confidently. Some of the programmes include:

Occupational Therapy is a specialised treatment programme that prepares the clients to live successfully in his/her own family and society. Through the practice and training of purposeful and goal directed activities and exercises, this treatment programme tries to improve client’s functional abilities and independent living skills.

Physiotherapy is a rehabilitative treatment programme, through the use of physical means such as exercises and electrotherapy that are planned and customised according to the individual client’s need. Examples of the treatment are maintaining and improving the power of the target muscle group, preventing occurrence and progression of contractures and deformities.

Speech Therapy is a specialised treatment and training programme that treats and trains clients to communicate effectively.

Medication/Vaccination may be prescribed by doctor to avoid further deterioration of the physical condition and structural deformities. Vaccination against common virus is an effective way to prevent disabling diseases.