What Are Motor and Orthopedic Disabilities?
Motor disabilities and orthopedic impairments are similar in that they are both characterized by the limited or irregular use of limbs or body parts. But in motor impairments, the disability results from damage to the central nervous system so that body parts do not respond normally to directions from the brain. Orthopedic impairments, on the other hand, result from the malformation or crippling of the skeletal frame. In some cases, bones, muscles, or entire limbs may be missing. Mobility problems have a wide variety of causes, including congenital defects, accidents, old age, and illness. Some movement disorders may sound familiar. For instance, most people have heard of muscular dystrophy, a genetic disorder that gradually destroys muscle mass, causing a loss of function. Spina bifida is a congenital defect that occurs when the spinal column is exposed by improper fusion or lack of fusion of the vertebrae. The extent of the resulting paralysis depends on the point at which the spinal
