Reduced Mobility – Causes and Treatment
Reduced mobility means that joints, muscles or the whole body move with more difficulty and through a smaller range than usual. The causes vary, and with a proper assessment and regular exercise mobility can often be improved.
What reduced mobility is
Reduced or limited mobility means difficulty with movements that are usually easy – bending, getting up from a chair, climbing stairs or lifting an arm overhead. It can affect a single joint, a whole area of the body or the general ability to get around.
The cause is often a combination of factors – pain, stiff muscles and joint capsules, weakness, the after-effects of an injury or surgery, and simply moving less during the day. When we move less, the body adapts to the smaller range and mobility declines further.
In many people mobility can improve with gradual, targeted loading and work on the limiting factors. The result depends on the cause, how long the problem has been present and how regularly exercises are done, which is why an individual assessment matters.
What contributes to limited mobility
- prolonged sitting and little movement
- injuries, fractures and immobilisation
- recovery after surgery
- joint changes and inflammation
- muscle tension and shortened muscles
- neurological conditions and age-related changes
How it shows up
- stiffness, especially in the morning or after rest
- reduced range of movement in a joint
- difficulty with daily activities
- tiring quickly when walking
- a feeling of instability or insecurity
- pain or tightness at the end of a movement
How we can help
We start with a thorough assessment to find which structures are limiting movement. We combine manual therapy, therapeutic massage and therapeutic exercise for mobility, strength and balance, and physiotherapy equipment to ease pain when needed. For people who find it hard to leave home, we also offer home rehabilitation with individual 60-minute sessions. If the assessment shows a need for a medical examination, we will refer you to a specialist.
When to see a doctor
Seek urgent medical care for sudden weakness or inability to move an arm or leg, difficulty speaking, severe pain after an injury, or sudden swelling and redness of a joint. See a doctor also if mobility is declining quickly for no clear reason or the limitation has not improved after a few weeks.
This page is for information only and does not replace an assessment by a specialist.