Rehabilitation Engineering: A Narrative Review on Recent Advances in Mobility Aids in India

Abstract

Mobility has been characterized as the capacity to move across an environment safely, pleasantly, elegantly, and autonomously. India's current population is 1.4 billion, out of which 2.3%, i.e., 32 million people, are suffering from some kind of disability. With the rise in the geriatric population, the incidence of non-communicable and communicable diseases also rises and presents the risk of disorders that may progress to disability. People often neglect their disability and learn to live with it, even when most of them can use rehabilitation programs in conjunction with various mobility aids. Affordable access to adequate healthcare and assistive devices is limited, contributing to the challenges faced by disabled adults. Despite the potential for many disabled individuals to engage in productive work, their employment rates remain significantly lower. Mobility aids can provide significant benefits to individuals affected by a range of medical conditions, including arthritis, cerebral palsy, developmental disabilities, diabetic ulcers and wounds, fractures or broken bones, injuries, and walking impairments resulting from brain injury or stroke. Each person is different and may require help in a certain way for their disability, so choosing the most appropriate aid is crucial for the individual's well-being. Commonly used mobility aids are canes, walking sticks, walkers, and wheelchairs, with prostheses being used less commonly. With the advent of techniques such as state-of-the-art 3D printing and challenging surgeries, various Indian tech companies, along with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), have brought about many significant changes in the world of prosthesis by making it better, affordable, and accessible.