Immobility is defined as a state of motionlessness, or near motionlessness, in which a person experiences a significant decrease in the ability to move. Immobility is common in the elderly and can increase the risk of falls, disease, and general low quality of life.
Physiotherapy has proved advantageous to those who wish to improve their mobility, reduce the risk of falling, and increase their quality of life. Assessments, exercises, and adjustments to a person’s immediate environment are all ways to help them through the process.
The elderly are particularly susceptible to the dangers of immobility. Staying inactive during the healing process from a surgery, procedure, or illness can lead to further health problems, such as immobility syndrome. If you’re recovering from a hip or knee replacement in particular, power-assisted exercise after joint replacement surgery can help you stay active during recovery without overdoing it. Immobility syndrome weakens and shrinks muscles, making it more difficult to regain mobility. According to research, approximately 70 percent of older adults experience a decline in function after a hospital stay. Don’t let immobility take hold – get up and get moving as soon as you can to avoid further health complications.
At Easy Exercising we have helped patients recover from immobility through physical therapy and exercise programs. We’ve developed this complete guide to the consequences of immobility and how to address it.
What causes immobility in the elderly?
Immobility can have many causes, including injuries, medical conditions, and mental health challenges. Even short hospital stays can lead to immobility. The common reasons fall into two categories: intrapersonal and interpersonal causes.
Intrapersonal factors are psychological – such as depression or fear of injury. Physical changes, like pain associated with cardiovascular or musculoskeletal disorders, can also lead to immobility. Interpersonal factors have to do with interactions older adults have with caregivers. Environmental causes like a cluttered living space can also make it difficult to move around. Some medications prescribed for other conditions can lead to depression and anxiety.
Common causes of immobility in elderly patients include Parkinson’s disease, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, broken or fractured bones, depression and anxiety, pain from arthritis and osteoporosis, muscle and joint pain, and malnutrition. A physician will usually carry out careful history-taking and a thorough physical examination as part of the assessment process.
The adverse effects of immobility
Immobility due to prolonged illness or a hospital stay can result in malfunctioning of many organs – including the circulatory system, respiratory system, and musculoskeletal system. The more time a person spends being inactive, the more their muscle mass and strength will decrease, making it harder for them to stand up – increasing their chances of falls and osteoporosis.
Prolonged immobility is associated with increased fatigue, low self-esteem, and loss of confidence. It can increase the risk of falls and the development of pressure ulcers. More importantly, immobility can lead to further immobility of other areas of the body if left untreated. Mobility is crucial for maintaining health and the body’s ability to heal and repair.
Relationship between immobility and falls
Falls are more common in the elderly due to factors such as poor eyesight, hearing, illnesses, and physical conditions. However, immobility plays a significant part. Lacking proper mobility means your body is put under more stress and strain when moving, which can often result in falls. When it’s difficult to move in general, there’s an increased risk of unexpected falls at any time.
What are the major complications of prolonged immobility?
Immobility leads to skin breakdown
Inactivity, immobilisation, and shear and friction forces can all damage the skin. This is especially true for patients who are overweight, those with spinal cord injuries or paralysis, and those confined to beds or wheelchairs.
Immobility leads to depressed respiratory function
Adverse effects on the respiratory system include pooling of respiratory secretions, which can lead to atelectasis and hypostatic pneumonia. Immobility can also cause shallow and ineffective respirations and a decrease in vital capacity.
Immobility leads to constipation
Difficult or painful bowel movements, constipation, and impaction can occur when a person is immobile and not getting enough exercise or fluids – both of which are needed for normal bowel function.
Immobility leads to renal dysfunction
When you don’t move your body regularly, your urinary system can be adversely affected – urinary retention, urinary stasis, renal calculi, and urinary tract infections can all result if not treated promptly.
Immobility leads to physical deconditioning
Deconditioning – the changes that happen to the body during inactivity – can have negative effects on your heart, lungs, and muscles. You may feel fatigued and weak. Deconditioning can occur after only a few days of inactivity, and the longer you’re inactive, the more severe it becomes.
Immobility leads to electrolyte imbalances
When people are immobile or bedridden, sodium levels usually decrease due to reduced antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Increased aldosterone secretion also causes potassium losses, which can lead to hypokalemia. When bones begin to demineralise, calcium concentrations in the blood increase – this can happen within days of being immobile.
Immobility contributes to psychological dysfunction
Psychological hazards of being immobile include apathy, isolation, frustration, lowered mood, and depression. A person may stop caring about the things around them, withdraw from social contact, and lose hope – feeling that things will only continue to get worse.
Immobility leads to DVT
A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep inside your body, most commonly in the legs. The most common cause is prolonged immobility. A serious complication occurs when part of the clot breaks off and travels to the lungs.
Immobility leads to impaired glucose metabolism
A sedentary lifestyle has been linked to insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, and type 2 diabetes. The body’s ability to regulate blood glucose is adversely affected by long periods of bed rest, with a progressive development of glucose intolerance.
How to increase mobility
Despite mobility decreasing with age, there are a number of ways to maintain or restore it, even when living with health conditions. Regular, gentle exercise has been proven to increase balance, ease arthritis symptoms, and enhance coordination. Walking, swimming, and even ballroom dancing have proven effective. A healthy diet and healthy weight also help to improve mobility, as obesity is one of the most overlooked causes of immobility.
How can immobility be prevented?
There’s a lot you can do throughout your life to prevent immobility. Increasing exercise and activity levels, decreasing the use of certain psychotropic medications, and improving the general environment have all shown effectiveness in preventing immobility and its complications. Taking care of physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing is essential.
Staying active is the best way to prevent mobility-related health problems. However, this can be a challenge for older adults experiencing pain. Here are some simple steps:
- Encourage short walks throughout the day
- Make sure the home is safe and easy to move around in
- Stay socially active by connecting with friends and family
- Participate in activities you enjoy
Being immobile is dangerous. It puts your wellbeing at risk in a way that can negatively affect your overall health – lack of mobility hinders the body’s ability to heal and repair itself. Whenever someone is confined to bed rest following an accident or injury, every bodily system is adversely affected, including the musculoskeletal and neurological systems.
Easy Exercising helps older adults regain mobility through exercises tailored to their individual needs. To book a free trial session with our team, contact us anytime.
Frequently-asked questions regarding the consequences of immobility
- What is an emotional consequence of immobility?
Target: depression, anxiety, loss of independence, social withdrawal, loss of identity and purpose - What post-op complication is most likely in an immobile patient?
Target: deep vein thrombosis (DVT) / pulmonary embolism — mention pressure sores and pneumonia as secondary risks - What complication of immobility affects the musculoskeletal system?
Target: muscle atrophy, contractures, joint stiffness, bone density loss (osteoporosis) - How quickly does muscle loss occur with immobility?
Target: 1–2% muscle mass loss per day in older adults — reinforce urgency of gentle movement - Can immobility complications be reversed?
Target: yes with graduated supervised exercise — link this to Easy Exercising’s approach - How does immobility affect circulation?
Target: reduced blood flow, DVT risk, pressure sores — supervised gentle exercise restores circulation
Recent Comments