Mobility is important to health. It burns calories, and often provides activities that stimulate the mind and body. Maintaining motion in old age is a good way to also maintain a high quality of life for elderly patients. Mobility allows for independence as well as human contact that is not easily replicated in a stationary setting. For diabetic patients, mobility also improves overall fitness and can help reduce the damaging effect of diabetes over time. Exercising, for example, is a key attribute of mobility that can improve health.

Mobility health products can be both preventative and reactive in nature. Most often they are prescribed to address pain associated with mobility in specific locations on the body. The upper back, lower back, ankle, wrist, and knee all have associated brace products covered by a wide array of insurances. As one ages or with overuse, chronic pain can occur.

As our population ages there will be a major rise in the number of elderly people and people on social security and Medicare. There is without a doubt a correlation between mobility and quality of life(QoL), but the relationship is hard to define directly. However it should not be ignored. Look at mobility as an operation; a physical act that brings about subsequent acts. From there it is easy to extrapolate how mobility improves QoL. For example, one is happier if they can grab a snack when they want it. One is less happy when they are made to wait for said snack or are unable to obtain it themselves. You can see the relationship exists in some manner, but is hard to factually define and outlay. As a society, it will be beneficial once we are able to develop and improve that operational concept of mobility, which then can be measured. Once it can be measured it can be used in arguments to expand coverage for mobility improving items and also to correlate and perhaps define the relationship between mobility and general health. An example would be, should a gym membership be covered as a preventative medication by health insurance but (like many other medications) require a certain amount of participation for continued coverage? IE: We believe exercise probably helps us live longer but we need to be able to prove that, with specific examples, and then request that it be covered in order to get it covered as a health insurance line item and procedure code.

When deciding if your mobility is hampered, make sure to consult your physician first. Once your physician examines your condition you will be able to properly assess the situation and make the decision to take the first steps towards an improved quality of life. There are many providers of orthotic braces and you should find one that fits your lifestyle.

To get started with a brace today, simply contact The Diabetic Shoppe, or another provider of mobility solutions. Your quality of life is very important, so treat it as such.

*The author of this blog is not a medical professional and this article does not contain professional medical advice. This blog is not intended to substitute for medical advice, treatment, or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of the contents of this article. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.