Mobility on the decline?
Subtle signs of declining mobility
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Signs that your mobility is on the decline often stir up images of a walk that is more shuffling than stepping and joints that are stiffer than they were in younger years.
Despite these symptoms all being key indicators of decreasing mobility, Dr Punam Krishan, TV and NHS GP working with stairlift and home lift brand Stannah, is revealing the subtler signs that also need to be recognised.
Clumsiness
Whilst this endearing personality trait can be just that without concern, it can also be a sign of age-related decline, according to Dr Punam.
The GP says:
“Many people put this [clumsiness] down to stress and being distracted but it can be worth looking at more closely. For example, bumping into things can be associated with balance and orientation issues due to natural degradation across three main sensory and physical systems: the inner ear, eyesight, and muscle strength.
“Muscle strength actually starts to decrease from age 30 and by age 70, muscle loss accelerates to around 15% per decade.
“The more these three systems decline, the body can struggle to process an incoming bump or knock and can’t provide the necessary correction to avoid it.”
Signs of clumsiness due to mobility decline
• Catching shoulders or hips on doorframes when walking through them
• Bumping into furniture despite the layout remaining the same (often a sign of altered spatial awareness)
• Tripping whilst using the stairs/ misjudging the step height
• Sitting on the edge of the bed for steadiness before standing
• Stumbles that take longer to recover from
Dr Punam continues:
“Rather than be the key reason for an appointment, clumsiness happens to come up in conversation with my patients. Sometimes it’s due to unexplained bruising where they mention that they have been clumsier than usual lately. From there, we then discuss potential causes and solutions.
“This wouldn’t happen without them mentioning it to me in passing, so don’t feel like it would be wasted energy to suggest to a loved one to mention it to their doctor. You’d be surprised at the positive outcomes it might lead to.”
Inability to do chores
Dishes piling up at the sink and clutter on the stairs to be moved to the upper floors aren’t signs of recent laziness, despite first assumption. In fact, the GP reveals that this is a sign that a loved one is perhaps not moving around the home in the same way that they used to do.
Dr Punam says that household chores like these can slowly be neglected if a loved one is unable to stand for the time it takes to complete them.
“The legs, hips and glutes contain the muscle groups that keep you upright and these decline over time – referred to as sarcopenia.
“Standing upright requires these muscle groups to contract and work together. When they don’t work as efficiently as they did before, this movement can prove to be difficult.
“Older loved ones can then tend to do most of their chores sitting down to compensate. It’s easy to dismiss this as lack of motivation but, actually, it’s a telling sign that they might need some more support with maintaining their home in a safe way. For example, simple home adaptations such as grab rails can support them when upright so they can continue to live independently.”
Signs of prolonged standing issues
• Constant weight-shifting from foot to foot
• Legs visibly trembling after a few minutes upright
• Leaning against hard surfaces for support
• Swollen ankles or feet after standing (an indicator of heart or circulation issues)
• Complaints of aching in the legs
Dr Punam continues:
“Chores can be ignored all together if a loved one has lost confidence about their ability to do them, which can create homemade hazards that make their home environment unsafe. If clutter is unmanaged, it can create tripping hazards. Therefore, it’s worth speaking to them about how they get on with household responsibilities and observe them as they are doing them for any difficulties standing.”
Reduced arm swing
Surprisingly, signs of mobility decline can also be spotted in the upper body as much as it can occur in the lower body, according to the TV GP. Dr Punam encourages people to observe a loved one’s arms when in their home for the following signs that they might need more support.
“When you walk, your arms naturally swing in an opposite pattern to the way your legs move as an automatic motion.
“As we get older, this movement can reduce as we take shorter steps and walk slightly slower due to decreased mobility. As an automatic adjustment to this natural change, arm swing isn’t as present. Since arm swing isn’t a chosen behaviour, its decline suggests something else is going on.”
Changes in arm swing can look like:
• Arms appear stiff or held closer to the body than usual
• A ‘marching soldier’ appearance to their walk
• Reduced shoulder shrug on the side more affected
• Fewer natural gestures during conversation
• Movement is jerky rather than a smooth, pendulum motion
Early indicator of Parkinson’s
According to Dr Punam, reduced arm swing is one of the earliest indicators of Parkinson’s disease – particularly if the movement is asymmetrical where one side may swing more so than the other. Where most people might associate this disease with tremors, Dr Punam advises that a change in arm swing actually predates this recognisable sign.
In less severe cases, changes to natural arm swing movements can indicate stiffness from conditions like arthritis as well as simple age-related decline.
Dr Punam concludes:
“Symptoms of mobility decline are rarely isolated. Instead, there is usually a combination of several.
“If you’ve observed these signs in a loved one, I advise you speak openly and honestly with them about how it might be impacting their daily life. Then, you can work with them to make any necessary changes to the home to support them and help them continue to live in their forever home.”
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Further reading and resources
You can see more about Stannah’s stair solutions on their showcase page
We have a section of Independent Living dedicated to stairlifts and homelifts
Our top tips on fall prevention are here
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