Why is bed mobility important for seniors?
The term bed mobility refers to scooting in bed, rolling, side-lying, and sitting. Illness or surgery sometimes weakens the muscles and endurance, leading to bed mobility loss. Our bodies are meant to move. If you fail to move well in bed, your body will suffer from disuse atrophy or wasting away of muscular strength. This can lead to raised difficulty in mobility.
Not moving in the bed can also cause sores on the stomach or small intestine lining, especially if you’re severely deconditioned and remain in one position for an extended period. The skin may begin to break down, resulting in painful wounds that require specialized care to heal.
Bed mobility can help prevent bedsores. There is also the risk of injury for the caregiver when assisting patients with limited mobility. Working on bed mobility exercises specified by the doctor is extremely important since it can keep the right muscle groups working correctly.