The 3 Most Common Physical Disabilities | John Foy & Associates (2024)

Physical disabilities can affect how someone lives and moves in the world. They can make working more difficult or even impossible. Not everyone experiences the same disability in the same way, either. But what qualifies as a disability, and what are some of the most common physical disabilities?

Continue reading to learn about the three most common physical disabilities. For more information about your potential claim, contact a personal injury lawyer at John Foy & Associates today.

What Is a Physical Disability?

Physical disabilities limit movement, stamina, physical functioning, and daily life. A disability can be temporary, long-term, or permanent. Someone can become a disabled individual because of illness, genetics, or injury.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in four Americans has a disability that affects major daily activities. One in seven U.S. adults has a movement-related disability — the most common type. Disabilities also become more common as we age.

Here are three of the most common physical disabilities we see.

1. Arthritis and Other Musculoskeletal Conditions

According to the Mayo Clinic, arthritis is tenderness and inflammation in one or more joints. Symptoms include stiffness, pain, swelling, and a lower range of motion.

The CDC reports that arthritis is the most common cause of disability for U.S. adults. It often worsens as someone gets older. People with disabilities are also more likely to have arthritis.

Arthritis types that can impact impaired individuals may include:

• Osteoarthritis: The most common form of arthritis, it’s a degenerative joint disease resulting from joint cartilage’s wear and tear over time. It often affects the hands, knees, hips, and spine.
• Septic arthritis: Caused by a bacterial or fungal infection in a joint, leading to inflammation. If not treated promptly, it can lead to joint damage.
• Juvenile arthritis: Refers to any form of arthritis or an arthritis-related condition that develops in children or teenagers under 18 years old.
• Gout: A type of arthritis that arises when urate crystals accumulate in the joints, causing intense pain and inflammation. It often starts in the big toe.
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): A chronic inflammatory disorder where the immune system attacks its own tissues, affecting the lining of joints, causing pain, swelling, and potential joint damage.
• Thumb arthritis: Arthritis that specifically affects the basal joint in the thumb, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced grip strength.
• Reactive arthritis: An autoimmune condition that develops in response to an infection in another part of the body, leading to joint pain, eye inflammation, and urinary issues.
• Ankylosing spondylitis: A type of arthritis that primarily affects the spine, leading to pain and stiffness from the neck down to the lower back. Over time, vertebrae can fuse together.

Arthritis often becomes severe enough to prevent someone from working. Daily activities can be painful or even impossible to do with arthritis.

Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders and Their Impact

Arthritis is a type of musculoskeletal disorder (MSD). MSDs impact the movement of the human body. Work-related MSDs are the leading cause of disability for employed people.

Other common MSDs include:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tendon or muscle strains
• Tendonitis
• A ruptured or herniated disc
• Tension neck syndrome
• Degenerative disc disease

MSDs can make it very hard for someone to move their body comfortably. Issues can include back pain, repetitive strain, and joint injuries.

The impact of WMSDs on individuals, companies, and society cannot be overstated. Individuals suffering from WMSDs experience various physical and psychological symptoms, including pain, discomfort, decreased mobility, and decreased quality of life. In some cases, these conditions can lead to long-term disability and a reduced ability to work or participate in daily activities.

2. Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common childhood disability that impacts muscle coordination and movement. CP is a group of disorders that impact the ability to maintain balance and move.

Cerebral Palsy is a medical condition that affects an individual’s ability to control their body movements and coordination. It is caused by damage to the developing brain that occurs before, during, or shortly after birth. Cerebral Palsy can result in difficulties with movement, muscle control, muscle tone, balance, and posture, among others.

There are four main types of CP:

• Spastic Cerebral Palsy: This is the most common type of cerebral palsy, affecting about 80% of people with the condition. It is characterized by increased muscle tone, resulting in stiff muscles and jerky movements.
• Ataxic Cerebral Palsy: This type is less common and affects balance and coordination. People with ataxic cerebral palsy might have problems with precise movements, like buttoning a shirt. They may also have difficulty with quick movements or movements that require a lot of control, like writing.
• Mixed Cerebral Palsy: As the name suggests, this type involves symptoms of more than one of the other cerebral palsy types. For example, someone might have symptoms of both spastic and ataxic cerebral palsy.
• Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy: This type is characterized by involuntary, uncontrolled, and sometimes slow and writhing movements of the hands, arms, legs, and even the face and tongue. The muscle tone in people with dyskinetic cerebral palsy can vary, changing from too tight to too loose within a short period.

Each type has a distinct kind of movement disorder associated with it. A person can experience uncontrollable movements, stiff muscles, or poor coordination or balance. This can severely impact a person’s life skills and can be a lifelong condition.

3. Spinal Injuries and Spinal Conditions

Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) happen because of damage to the spinal cord. The result is a loss of feeling, movement, or other functions. Diseases or trauma (such as a car accident) are common causes of spinal cord injuries.

There are two main types of SCIs:

• Complete spinal injury, in which someone experiences loss of function below the point at which the injury happened
• Incomplete spinal injury, in which someone has some function below the point at which the injury occurred

SCIs might lead to the sufferer losing function below the neck or the chest area. Living with a spinal cord injury can present numerous challenges, from adapting to new physical limitations to navigating a world that is not always accessible. Individuals may require assistive devices such as wheelchairs or walkers to maintain mobility and may need support with activities of daily living.

Other Common Physical Disabilities

The above are just a few of the most common examples of physical disabilities. There are many other disabling conditions, including these additional common types.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) can happen when the tissue around the body’s nerves gets damaged. Scars can form that interrupt messages between the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

MS is a progressive condition. It might progress quickly for some or very slowly for others.

Symptoms of MS include:

• Loss of motor control
• Fatigue
• Numbness
• Memory loss
• Depression
• Tingling
• Cognitive issues

Amputations

An amputation is the loss of a body part. Foot, hand, leg, and arm amputations are common.

Amputations can happen because of car accidents, work-related accidents, or disease. If someone cannot work because of amputation, they could be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

Although an amputation is sometimes medically necessary, it is also a life-changing event with profound physical, emotional, and psychological consequences for the affected person. An amputee is forced to adapt to life without one or more of their limbs, which can limit their ability to perform everyday activities and have a negative impact on their overall quality of life.

Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy is a group of disorders that cause loss of muscle mass and weakness. The symptoms are progressive and have no cure.

There are over 30 types of muscular dystrophy. Symptoms can include the following:

• Problems with swallowing or breathing
• Motion restrictions
• Joint stiffness
• Difficulty walking
• Organ problems

Living with Muscular Dystrophy can be tough, and those affected by it often need significant support from loved ones and healthcare professionals. Despite the challenges, however, people with MD often show tremendous courage and resilience, adapting to the ever-changing needs of their bodies and striving to live fulfilling lives.

Secondary Conditions From Physical Disabilities

Many people with disabilities face secondary health issues. A person might experience these symptoms:

• Fatigue
• Pain
• Mental health disorders
• Shame
• Bowel or bladder problems
• Mobility impairment
• Ulcers
• Weight-related health problems
• Muscle weakness

According to the CDC, those with disabilities are less likely to have access to health care and more likely to have poorer overall health than the national average.

Disability Benefits for Physical Disabilities

A physical disability can prevent someone from working and earning income. If you or a loved one has a disability, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) might be an option. You qualify for SSDI if:

• You have a disabling medical condition.
• Your condition prevents you from working for at least a year.
• You have earned enough work credits through Social Security.

The Limits of SSDI

While SSDI can be a boon to those who have suffered a disability, there are limits to the benefits you can receive. As of 2021, a person on SSDI can receive a maximum of $1,310 monthly. That dollar amount increases to $2,190 if you are blind.

For non-blind people with disabilities, the benefits are about $300 per month above the federal poverty level. If other people are in your household, this may not be enough, and you might need to seek additional ways to offset your inability to work. Luckily, you are not cut off from SSDI benefits for having too much money in your bank account.

More Avenues for Disability Compensation

If you have a qualifying disability (intellectual disability, neurological condition, developmental disabilities, etc.), have earned the appropriate amount of work credits through Social Security, and have been unable to work, the government may provide you with the necessary benefits. But there are other ways of getting compensation for your disability.

For example, disabilities caused by a workplace accident may also be covered by workers’ compensation. Alternatively, you may be able to pursue compensation from an at-fault party if someone else’s negligence caused your disabling condition.

A slip-and-fall accident that renders you unable to work could mean you are eligible to file a lawsuit against the property owner. A car accident that causes your disability could result in a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. Speak with a personal injury lawyer at John Foy & Associates to learn whether or not you have additional avenues for compensation in your case.

Talk to a Social Security Disability Lawyer for Free Today

Many people struggle to get the SSDI benefits they deserve. At John Foy & Associates, we are here to help. We have assisted countless people in getting benefits over the past 20-plus years.

We can help you file your claim, improve your application, or appeal a denied claim. Contact us today for a consultation to learn more. We do not charge a fee unless we win you benefits.

To schedule your FREE, no-risk consultation, contact us now.