Mobility Aids and Ambulation Devices

Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 21 Jul 2026

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics

Synopsis

Mobility aids are devices like walkers, canes, crutches, wheelchairs, and scooters that help seniors and people with disabilities move safely and independently.

At a Glance

• 1 - Just over 6.8 million Americans use assistive mobility devices, including 1.7 million wheelchair or scooter riders and 6.1 million cane, crutch, and walker users.
• 2 - Osteoarthritis is the most common condition linked to mobility device use, serving as the primary cause of disability for 1.2 million users.
• 3 - A gait trainer is a newer aid that offers more support than a standard walker, assisting weight-bearing, balance, and postural alignment during walking practice.

Topic Definition

Mobility Aid

A mobility aid, sometimes called an ambulation device, is any tool designed to help a person walk or get from place to place when illness, injury, age, or disability makes moving on their own difficult. The category is broad and ranges from simple walking aids such as canes, crutches, walkers, and rollators to more advanced equipment like manual and electric wheelchairs and motorized scooters for longer distances or more severe impairment. People living with conditions such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, or back pain often rely on these aids to stay active and independent, and the group also includes transfer and lifting equipment like stair lifts, lift chairs, sling lifts, and knee scooters that help users move within the home or between a bed and a chair. For those who are blind or visually impaired, the white cane and guide dog have long served a similar purpose. In short, a mobility aid is a practical bridge that restores freedom of movement and helps people carry on with daily life.

About This Section

Reduced mobility is something that many of us do not think twice about, but it is something that millions of people all over the world live with every day. There are of people in the world who suffer from disabilities on a level that few of us could imagine. With the aging of the baby boomers comes the realization that the growth of people with disabilities will continue to increase year by year.

What is a Mobility Aid or Device?

A mobility aid is a device designed to assist walking or otherwise improve the mobility of people with a mobility impairment. There are various walking aids which can help people with impaired ability to walk, and wheelchairs or mobility scooters for more severe disability or longer journeys which would otherwise be undertaken on foot. For people who are blind or visually impaired, the white cane and guide dog have a long history of use. Other aids can help with mobility or transfer within a building or where there are changes of level.

Mobility Concerns

Many people with disabilities have a major concern, the mobility issue. Plainly put, 'how are they going to get around'? Through technology there has been the creation of mobility aids like electric wheelchairs, lift vans, and rollators.

Mobility Aids for persons with disabilities and/or health conditions, also called Ambulation devices, are used by people with arthritis, MS, Parkinson's disease, back pain, Cerebral Palsy, and many other physical limiting conditions. Mobility aids help you walk or move from place to place if you are disabled, aged, or have an injury. Mobility aids include items such as walkers, canes, crutches, manual and electric wheelchairs and motorized scooters.

Walking aids are tools designed to assist walking or enable mobility. You may need a walker or cane if you are at risk of falling. Zimmer frames, and wheeled (rolling) walkers or rollators are other devices designed to assist people having difficulty walking.

Elbow crutches can be the most appropriate walking aid for some people, especially for those recovering from an injury. They are usually adjustable to make them more comfortable and offer the appropriate level of support. Crutches may be available in different colors, depending on the model. If you need to keep your body weight off your foot, ankle or knee, you may need crutches. You may need a wheelchair or a scooter if an injury or disease has left you unable to walk.

• Gait Trainer: A device to assist walking that has entered the market recently is the gait trainer. This is a mobility aid that is more supportive than the standard walker. It typically offers support that assists weight-bearing and balance. The accessories or product parts that attach to the product frame provide support and postural alignment to enable walking practice. Mobility aids may also include adaptive technology such as sling lifts or other patient transfer devices that help transfer users between beds and chairs or lift chairs (and other sit-to-stand devices), transfer or convertible chairs. Knee scooters help some users.
• Stair lifts: Much more cost-effective than an elevator, and easier to install, a stair lift allows a rider to move up and down stairs while seated. These lifts, known as stair lifts, can be installed for a staircase inside or outside the home and give the user back his/her mobility in their home. They can also be installed on a curved staircase. For many, the addition of a stair lift may be all they need to continue living in their home.
• Lift Chairs: A lift chair is an exceptional home lifting aid. They are recliners that lift into the air to make it easier and safer to transfer into and out of the chair. Some can support more than 500 pounds, and they come in many shapes and sizes to accommodate different body types. In addition to providing an electrical lifting mechanism that raises the chair into the air, they also offer motorized back and leg rests, which makes them very comfortable.

Statistics for U.S. Mobility Device Users

• Just over 6.8 million community-resident Americans use assistive devices to help them with mobility. This group comprises 1.7 million wheelchair or scooter riders and 6.1 million users of other mobility devices, such as canes, crutches, and walkers.
• More than four-tenths of mobility device users are unable to perform their major activity.
• Four-fifths of wheelchair users report that their local public transportation system is difficult to use or to get to.
• Stroke and osteoarthritis are the two most prevalent primary conditions among wheelchair and scooter users.
• Two-thirds of mobility device users have limitations in one or more of the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL).
• Nearly all wheelchair users report trouble walking, and more than three-quarters are unable to walk a quarter of a mile.
• Less than one-fifth of working-age wheelchair and walker users are employed; the employment rate for crutch users is more than twice as high.
• About half of wheelchair users must use steps to enter or exit their homes. A similar fraction report having difficulty entering or leaving the home.
• Osteoarthritis is by far the most prevalent condition associated with mobility device use, affecting 1.2 million mobility device users as the primary cause of disability.
• High levels of mobility device use are observed among African Americans and Native Americans. Asians and Pacific Islanders are the racial group with the lowest device use.
• Almost one-third of mobility device users need assistance from another person in one or more of the Activities of Daily Living (ADL), compared to less than 1 percent of non-users.
• Among children who use wheelchairs, almost six-tenths are covered under Medicaid. Among working-age wheelchair users, four-tenths are covered under Medicare and three-tenths under Medicaid.

Further References

• Mobility Device Use in the United States - (PDF Report)
• Mobility Device Statistics - United States - University of California Disability Statistics Center.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a stair lift and how does it help someone stay in their own home?

A stair lift is a motorized seat that travels along a track fitted to a staircase, letting someone move safely between floors without climbing steps, and it can be installed on straight or curved staircases both inside and outside the home. Because it costs far less than installing an elevator and requires a simpler install, a stair lift often lets someone continue living safely in a multi-level home rather than having to move.

What is a lift chair and how much weight can these chairs typically support?

A lift chair is a recliner with a built-in motor that gently raises the seat and tilts it forward, helping someone stand up or sit down safely without straining their legs or back. Many models also include motorized back and leg rests for added comfort, and some heavy-duty versions are built to support more than 500 pounds.

What are sling lifts and other patient transfer devices used for?

Sling lifts and similar patient transfer devices use a fabric sling and a hoist mechanism to safely move a person between a bed, chair, or bathroom fixture without requiring a caregiver to lift them manually. These devices reduce the risk of falls and injury during transfers for people who cannot support their own weight, and they are commonly used alongside other adaptive equipment like transfer or convertible chairs.

How does a gait trainer differ from a standard walker or rollator?

A gait trainer offers more structural support than a standard walker or rollator, using frame attachments that provide unweighting support and postural alignment so a person can practice walking safely. A rollator is generally intended for someone who can already walk with some support and wants wheels, brakes, and a seat for resting, while a gait trainer suits people who need more substantial assistance with balance and weight bearing during walking practice itself.

What are the most common health conditions that lead to needing a mobility aid?

Osteoarthritis is the single most common condition linked to mobility device use, followed closely by stroke among wheelchair and scooter users, with other frequent causes including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, and chronic back pain. The right aid often depends less on the specific diagnosis and more on how much strength, balance, and stamina a person has day to day.

Are white canes and guide dogs classified as mobility aids?

Yes, the white cane and guide dog are considered mobility aids because they help people who are blind or visually impaired travel safely and independently, much like a walker or wheelchair helps someone with a physical mobility impairment. Both serve the same core purpose of restoring safe, confident movement, even though they address a different type of limitation than walking aids or wheelchairs.

Does Medicaid help cover the cost of a wheelchair for a child?

In the United States, Medicaid covers a wheelchair for a child in a large share of cases, with statistics showing almost six in ten children who use wheelchairs are covered under Medicaid. Coverage still typically requires a doctor's prescription documenting medical necessity, so checking the specific requirements with your state Medicaid program is an important step before purchasing.

Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team.

Last updated: 21 Jul 2026