What is the term used when someone is unable to walk?

Reviewed by Courtney Bloomer, DO

Emergency Medicine

The term "dismobility" is used to describe difficulty walking or reduced capacity to walk.

Explanation

Immobility is a word used by doctors to describe a patient who is not able to ambulate. When a person’s walking speed is very slow or their movements are very limited, we call it dismobility. When someone is immobile, they might need special help, like physical therapy or other treatments, to try to improve their ability to walk. Sometimes, immobility comes from other health problems or injuries that affect muscles or nerves.

(References)

Updated 2024 Apr 20]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560610/
Cummings SR, Studenski S, Ferrucci L. A diagnosis of dismobility--giving mobility clinical visibility: a Mobility Working Group recommendation. JAMA. 2014 May;311(20):2061-2. doi: 10.1001/jama.2014.3033. PMID: 24763978; PMCID: PMC5012417.
Nonnekes J, Růžička E, Serranová T, Reich SG, Bloem BR, Hallett M. Functional gait disorders: A sign-based approach. Neurology. 2020 Jun 16;94(24):1093-1099. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000009649. Epub 2020 Jun 1. PMID: 32482839; PMCID: PMC7455329.

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