Types of physical disabilities

What is a physical disability?

A physical disability is a substantial and long-term condition affecting a part of a person’s body that impairs and limits their physical functioning, mobility, stamina or dexterity.

The loss of physical capacity results in the person having a reduced ability, or inability, to perform body movements such as walking, moving their hands and arms, sitting and standing as well as controlling their muscles.

A physical disability does not necessarily stop you from performing specific tasks but makes them more challenging. This includes daily tasks taking longer to complete, such as getting dressed or difficulty gripping and carrying things.

It is important to note that defining physical disability is not about the physical condition itself but how it impacts daily life, such as the ability to carry out work activities.

A person may be born with a physical disability or acquire it in life due to an accident, injury, illness or as a side effect of a medical condition.

Examples of physical disability include cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Carpal tunnel syndrome, amputations and spinal cord injuries.

What causes a physical disability?

Just as types of physical abilities and how they impact a person’s daily life are all different, causes of physical disabilities also vary. Physical disabilities can be caused by either hereditary, congenital or acquired reasons.

Hereditary or congenital

A person with a hereditary or congenital physical disability has had the condition since birth, developed the condition because of inherited genetic problems, issues with muscle cells or the person suffered an injury during birth.

Acquired

A person can acquire a physical disability due to a number of reasons. These can be severe accidents, brain injuries, infections, diseases and as a side effect of disorders and other medical conditions, such as a stroke and dementia.

What are the types of physical disabilities?

There is a vast number of physical disabilities, each affecting people differently. Types include mobility impairment, visual impairment, hearing loss, chronic fatigue or pain and seizures.

Physical disabilities are categorised into groups. The main physical disability groups are:

Musculoskeletal disability

Musculoskeletal disability affects the joints, bones and muscles and includes loss or deformity of limbs, Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease) and Muscular Dystrophy (muscle weakness). These disabilities result in an inability to perform movements of body parts due to deformities, diseases or degeneration affecting the muscles or bones.

There are more than 200 musculoskeletal conditions and each year, 20 per cent of people in the UK see a doctor because of a problem relating to it.

Common examples of musculoskeletal disabilities include back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, fractures associated with bone fragility and inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.

Neuromusculoskeletal disability

Neuromusculoskeletal disability, defined as the inability to move affected body parts due to diseases, degeneration or disorder of the nervous system, resulting in physical disability.

Conditions that fall under Neuromusculoskeletal disabilities are cerebral palsy, spina bifida, stroke, spinal cord injury, head injury and poliomyelitis.

Common physical disabilities

There are 7 key examples of physical disabilities. These are:

Cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy occurs in young children and is a group of non-progressive disorders that damage the brain, causing impairment of motor function. Including associated disabilities such as intellectual and behavioural, a person with cerebral palsy usually has problems with movement and co-ordination.

Spina bifida

Spina bifida is when there are problems in the development of a baby’s spinal cord, resulting in a gap in the spine, causing spinal nerves to be exposed. The development defect of the spinal canal may cause paralysis of the lower part of the body. Additionally, the person may lose bowel and bladder control as a result.

Acquired brain injury

Acquired brain injuries are due to damage to the brain after birth and can be caused by a wide range of factors, including stroke, head injury, alcohol, drugs, lack of oxygen or various diseases such as cancer. This can cause the person to find it difficult to move certain parts of their body and struggle with daily activities.

Spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injuries can result in total or partial impairment of sensory and motor functions in the body and limbs. A spinal cord injury can lead to paraplegia and tetraplegia, also known as quadriplegia.

Paraplegia affects the lower limbs and results in a loss of movement and bowel and bladder control. Tetraplegia is a paralysis affecting both arms and legs, the stomach and some chest muscles, resulting in total impairment of sensory and motor functions.

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a neurological condition that causes a person to have a tendency of recurring seizures. There are many types of epilepsy which range in severity and each person with epilepsy experiences it differently.

Multiple sclerosis (MS)

Multiple sclerosis is a condition affecting a person’s brain and spinal cord, causing a range of physical problems including movement, sensation and balance. Symptoms can include but are not limited to fatigue, loss of motor control, numbness and visual disturbances.

MS lasts for a person’s whole life and can cause severe disability. Although there are treatments, the average life expectancy for people with MS is reduced.

Arthritis

Arthritis comes in many forms and causes pain and inflammation in joints and can affect children as well as adults. More than 10 million people in the UK are living with arthritis or a similar condition. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which affect the smooth cartilage lining of the joint, making movement more difficult and can cause pain and stiffness.