What should I do if I have trouble with stairs?

Shelley Peterman Schwarz

Neurology

You might want to consider installing a stair lift if you have difficulty getting up and down stairs because of limited mobility, tremors, poor eyesight, or wheelchair use. These devices, which are installed on the wall of your stairway, allow a person to sit on a chair at the top or the bottom of the stairs and be glided to the opposite end by the power lift.

More About this Book

Parkinson's Disease (300 Tips for Making Life Easier)

Being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease can be distressing, and adjusting to the effects of the disease can be difficult. The second edition of Parkinson's Disease: 300 Tips for Making Life Easier...

Continue Learning about Physical Disabilities

What do Winston Churchill and James Earl Jones have in common besides a deep voice and a robust stature? They were both stutterers. Stuttering that l...

Challenge America

An orthotist is a practitioner who helps people with disabilities of the spine and limbs. Orthotics ...

Dr. Daniel R. Spogen, MD

Speech pathologists work with people who have conditions that cause difficulty with speech (hearing/...

Ruth White, MPH

According to the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), an individual with a disability is a person w...

Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

Physical Disabilities

Physical disabilities can be sensory, where there are problems with sight, hearing or speech, or they may impair motor function, so that movement is restricted or imprecise. Injuries may cause a disability, and disease such as a heart condition may also make normal exertion impossible. Some disabilities start at birth - congenital disabilities. Others are acquired during life. If you have a disability, it is almost certain that there are many others who do also. Most conditions have support groups or associations that have grown up relating to the problem. These groups may offer specialized help to minimize the effect of the condition.

Learn More