3. Rehabilitation for motor functions and mobility


A woman uses both hands to button the top of her shirt

Rehabilitation aims to maintain or improve function.

 Function is the ability to combine physical and cognitive skills to complete daily activities.


For more information on rehabilitation, see the introduction to rehabilitation module.


Rehabilitation for motor function and mobility is focused on physical function.

Interventions may be broadly  categorised as:

  • Non-pharmacological
  • Pharmacological.

Non-pharmacological interventions

Non-pharmacological interventions are Promotive, Preventive, Restorative and/or Compensatory (PPRC).

Examples include:

  • Promotive
    • Advising a person to go for a light walk each day, to promote good health and mobility

Two women walk outside in the park. One has a walking stick


  • Preventive
    • Stretching and light exercises, to maintain range of motion and prevent contractures, in a person’s arm and hand after a stroke

a woman is sitting on a plinth while a health worker assists her to stretch her arm


  • Restorative
    • Exercises focused on strengthening the legs, to help a person return to standing and walking.

A man stands holding onto the back of a chair while lifting his right leg up and back


  • Compensatory
    • Providing a person with a walking stick for balance, and training in how to use it safely.
    • Providing strategies for loss of visual field, after a stroke.

A health worker is talking to a women who is standing with a walking stick


Provision of Assistive products

A young boy is using a white cane to walk to school with a friend


For more information about assistive products, see the introduction to assistive products TAP module.


Mobility assistive products

Mobility assistive products are used by many people of all ages who have mobility difficulties. 

They can:

  • Provide support to help a person sit up, transfer, stand, walk and run
  • Provide people who cannot walk with a different way to mobilise.

 

Mobility assistive products may be used as a compensatory intervention, for people with permanent mobility difficulties.

They can also be provided in the short term, as part of a restorative rehabilitation programme.

A man sitting on a wide bench with his rollator in front of him. He has grey hair and looks like an older person


For more information about assistive products, see the mobility to assistive products TAP module.


Assistive products for motor functions and mobility include walking aids and wheelchairs.

Walking aids

Walking aids support people to stand and walk.

These include:

  • Walking sticks
  • Elbow and axilla crutches
  • Rollators
  • Walking frames

Jensen walking with a walking stick


For more information about assistive products, see the walking aids TAP module.


Wheelchairs

Wheelchairs provide wheeled mobility and seating support for a person who has difficulty walking or moving around.

A man is sitting in his wheelchair with his hands on the push rims.


For more information about wheelchair provision, see the WHO Wheelchair Service Training Packages.


Other mobility assistive products

  • Portable ramps: To assist people to enter and exit buildings and rooms safely, while using a walking aid or wheelchair.
  • Grab bars: To assist people to transfer safely in and out of bed, in and out of their wheelchair and in and around their bathroom.
  • Transfer boards: To assist people to transfer in and out of their wheelchair to other surfaces.
  • Therapeutic footwear: Shoes with special features to help protect and support the feet of a person at risk of developing a foot wound.
  • Rigid removable boots: Rigid removable boots are used by people who have an injury to their foot or ankle. They help injuries to heal by reducing movement of the foot and ankle.


a man, pushes his rollator up a portable ramp to access a building


A woman walks upstairs using a walking stick in her right hand. She holds a grab bar on the wall with her right hand to suppo


A woman leans over to the side of her wheelchair, while another woman assists her to place a transfer board between the wheel


An example of a therapeutic sandal with self-adhesive strap closures


Mario wearing a rigid removable boot


For more information about other mobility assistive technology, see the following TAP modules:

  • Portable ramps
  • Grab bars
  • Transfer boards
  • Therapeutic footwear
  • Rigid removable boots


This information is a general introduction to medications.

All medications should be provided according to your health service’s standard treatment guidelines and be considered as part of an overall rehabilitation treatment plan.


Pharmacological interventions

Prescription and non-prescription medications can support an overall health and rehabilitation treatment plan.

Medications may be used to reduce symptoms, such as pain, or address complications of different health conditions or disabilities.

 

These may include:

 

Analgesics: Analgesics are a group of medications designed to relieve pain.

Analgesics can support people whose pain is limiting their movement, such as people with arthritis.

 

Anti-inflammatory: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a group of medications that manage the pain and inflammation.

NSAIDs can support people with some types of arthritis and other musculoskeletal injuries and disorders.

 

Antispastic / antispasmodic: Antispastic medication, also known as muscle relaxers, are a group of medications that relax contracted, overactive, or stiff muscles.

They can also help with reducing tremors.


Daniel reads the labels on his medication bottles