The most common disability in the UK is mobility impairment. This includes conditions that affect movement such as walking, lifting or carrying. According to government statistics, 8.3 million people in the UK (around 13% of the population) have some form of mobility impairment.
What are the main types of disabilities in the UK?
The main types of disabilities in the UK are:
- Mobility impairments – conditions affecting movement (8.3 million people)
- Mental health conditions – including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder etc (7.8 million people)
- Learning disabilities – affecting comprehension and understanding (2.2 million people)
- Hearing loss/deafness – partial or complete hearing loss (11 million people)
- Vision impairments – including blindness and partial sight (2 million people)
Other disabilities in the UK include dementia, speech impairments, autism and epilepsy.
What are the causes of mobility impairments?
There are various causes of mobility impairments in the UK population:
- Arthritis – wearing away of joint cartilage causing pain and stiffness. Affects 10 million people.
- Back pain – damage to spine, discs or muscles. Affects 5.4 million people.
- Broken bones/fractures – from accidents, falls or osteoporosis. Take time to heal.
- Cerebral palsy – brain damage causing movement disorders.
- Spina bifida – defect in development of spinal cord.
- MS – damage to nerve fibres causes numbness, muscle weakness, vision loss.
- Parkinson’s disease – breakdown of nerve cells causes tremors, rigid muscles.
- Stroke – blood supply to brain disrupted. Causes weakness or paralysis.
- Age – muscle strength, flexibility and stamina decline with age.
Other causes include sports injuries, genetic conditions and nerve damage from diabetes.
What are the most common forms of mobility impairments?
The most common forms of mobility impairments in the UK are:
- Walking difficulties – Conditions like arthritis or back pain that make walking painful, difficult or unsafe.
- Dexterity issues – Loss of full hand or arm function, making tasks like lifting, carrying or turning objects difficult.
- Balance problems – Conditions like vertigo or stroke affecting balance while standing or walking.
- Stamina problems – Fatigue from conditions like CFS or fibromyalgia limits mobility.
- Muscle weakness – Conditions like MS and muscular dystrophy cause muscle weakness.
- Paralysis – Spinal cord injuries or conditions like cerebral palsy cause partial or total paralysis.
The most common mobility aids used are walking sticks, crutches, rollators, manual wheelchairs and powered wheelchairs.
What are the main effects of mobility impairments?
Mobility impairments can have wide-ranging effects on a person’s life, including:
- Difficulty walking or standing for long periods
- Problems managing stairs or steps
- Need for walking aids or wheelchairs
- Tiring easily and needing to rest frequently
- Difficulty lifting, bending, reaching high shelves etc
- Restrictions on activities and hobbies
- Social isolation and depression
- Problems accessing public transport
- Difficulty caring for oneself or living independently
- Higher risk of falls and injuries
This can lead to loss of independence and reduced quality of life. Accessibility adaptations, mobility aids and carer support can help overcome some effects.
How many people have mobility issues in the UK?
According to government statistics:
- 8.3 million people in the UK have mobility impairments – around 13% of the population
- This includes:
- 7 million with walking difficulty
- 5.7 million unable to walk up/down 12 steps unaided
- 2.4 million using a wheelchair or mobility scooter
- 1 in 5 people over 80 have mobility problems
- Arthritis is the biggest cause – affecting 10 million people
- Back pain affects 5.4 million people
- 4 million people use aids like sticks or crutches
Mobility impairment is the most widespread disability in the UK. The number of people affected rises steeply with age.
What regions have the highest rates of mobility impairments?
Government statistics indicate mobility impairment rates are highest in:
- Northern Ireland – around 22% of the population
- Wales – around 20% of the population
- North East England – around 18%
- West Midlands and Yorkshire – around 15%
The regions with the lowest rates are:
- London – around 10% of the population
- South East England – around 12%
In general, mobility impairment rates tend to be higher in deprived urban areas and lower in more affluent regions. Rates also increase dramatically with age.
Are more men or women affected by mobility issues?
According to government statistics:
- 6.5 million women have mobility impairments
- 5.0 million men have mobility impairments
- 18% of women have mobility problems compared to 14% of men
The main reasons more women than men are affected include:
- Women live longer and mobility problems increase with age
- Arthritis is more common in women
- Women more likely to have osteoporosis leading to broken bones
- Pregnancy puts strain on women’s backs
However, among younger adults, mobility impairment is more common in men – likely due to injuries and accidents.
Which age groups are most affected by mobility disabilities?
Mobility impairment rates broken down by age group:
- Ages 16-49: Around 6% affected
- Ages 50-64: Around 16% affected
- Ages 65-79: Around 30% affected
- Over 80: Around 50% affected
Clearly, age is the biggest risk factor for developing mobility disabilities. Impairment rates rise steeply from middle age onwards.
How many people use wheelchairs in the UK?
Government statistics indicate:
- Around 2.4 million people in the UK use wheelchairs or mobility scooters
- 1.2 million use manual wheelchairs – usually custom fitted
- 1.7 million use powered wheelchairs or mobility scooters
- Electric wheelchair use has increased by 18% in recent years
- Around 1 in 50 people over 80 use wheelchairs
Common reasons for wheelchair use include paralysis, loss of limb function, severe arthritis, COPD, stroke, MS, cerebral palsy, spina bifida and other neurological or muscular conditions.
What are the main causes of wheelchair use?
The most common causes of wheelchair use in the UK are:
- Stroke – Leading cause of disability. About 50% of stroke survivors have limited mobility.
- Spinal cord injuries – Severing of nerves causes paralysis. About 40% of SCIs result in incomplete tetraplegia.
- Cerebral palsy – Brain damage at birth causing movement disorders.
- Multiple sclerosis – Nerve damage leads to numbness, muscle weakness, paralysis.
- Arthritis – Joint damage causes severe mobility restrictions.
- Amputations – Loss of limbs from injury, illness or vascular disease.
- Muscular dystrophies – Group of muscle wasting conditions.
Other causes include spina bifida, motor neuron disease, Parkinson’s disease and peripheral neuropathies like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disorder.
How does wheelchair use change with age?
| Age Group | Wheelchair Users |
|---|---|
| 16-49 years | Around 1 in 200 people |
| 50-64 years | Around 1 in 100 people |
| 65-79 years | Around 1 in 50 people |
| Over 80 | Around 1 in 12 people |
The percentage of people using wheelchairs increases dramatically from around middle age onwards. By over 80, around 8% of people use wheelchairs.
What are the key issues facing wheelchair users?
Some of the main challenges faced by wheelchair users include:
- Physical barriers – Steps, curbs, narrow doors restrict access.
- Transport difficulties – Accessing buses, trains, taxis etc.
- Lack of accessible housing – Suitable for wheelchairs.
- Access to healthcare – Accessible facilities and equipment.
- Discrimination – Negative attitudes or exclusion.
- Personal care needs – Dressing, washing, toileting etc.
- Social isolation – Reduced participation in community.
Disability rights laws, access improvements and support services aim to tackle these issues but challenges remain.
What percentage of wheelchair users are over 65?
Around 70% of wheelchair users in the UK are over the age of 65. More specifically:
- 16-49 years – Around 15% of wheelchair users
- 50-64 years – Around 15% of wheelchair users
- 65-79 years – Around 45% of wheelchair users
- Over 80 – Around 25% of wheelchair users
As age is the biggest risk factor for mobility disabilities, most wheelchair users are seniors. Arthritis, stroke, injuries from falls and age-related illnesses are common causes.
What direction is wheelchair use likely to go in future?
Wheelchair use in the UK is likely to increase in future for several reasons:
- Ageing population – More people over 65 and over 80.
- Increasing life expectancy – Living longer with age-related disabilities.
- Rising obesity – Increases risk of conditions causing mobility impairment.
- Improved wheelchair technology – Increased functionality and independence.
- Greater social acceptance – Reduced stigma around disability.
However, advances in medicine, rehabilitation and accessible infrastructure may help offset some increase in wheelchair use.
Conclusion
In summary, mobility impairment such as difficulty walking or lifting is the most prevalent disability in the UK, affecting around 13% of the population. The main causes are arthritis, back pain, fractures, stroke and other musculoskeletal or neurological conditions. Mobility disability rates rise steeply with age and are higher in Northern Ireland, Wales and deprived urban areas.
Wheelchair use is also common, affecting 2.4 million people, and increases dramatically among the over 65s. Ongoing ageing of the population is likely to drive further increases in mobility disabilities and wheelchair use in the UK in future.
