SUMMARY
Adults with early-onset disabilities are generally healthy. Not all adults have serious health problems, and many now recognize the aging process as a natural course of events. The most common age- related changes and secondary conditions involve physical performance and the musculoskeletal system.
Prevention strategies require knowledge of expected changes, recognition of changes that alter function and require intervention, and an understanding of interventions that positively impact on function. This requires that a person with a disability have access to knowledgeable health care providers. Physiatrists may offer that knowledge through direct clinical service or indirectly functioning as a resource in the community. Environmental, communication, attitudinal, and systems barriers must be overcome in order for health care providers and people with disabilities to work together for the best possible outcomes.It is time to reconsider the model of illness and disease for persons with lifelong disabilities. Particularly in the realm of mobility, a health and wellness model should be developed. Use of prevention strategies must be considered in childhood and adolescence to address the more frequent secondary conditions. Programs of fitness and exercise have been proven beneficial in nondisabled groups and disability groups alike. Health promotion strategies should be employed for persons with congenital and childhood-onset mobility impairments.
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