BURLINGTON, Vt., May 6 (UPI) -- According to a new study more older Americans are opting to use canes and other mobility devices, like walkers and wheelchairs. But mobility devices don't necessarily encourage mobility. In fact, surveys conducted by researchers at the University of Vermont showed that older adults who use mobility devices tend to limit their activities for fear of falling.
The research found that about a quarter of adults 65 years and older were using mobility devices in 2011, and about a third of these used multiple devices. It is becoming increasingly common, researchers say, for older adults to use a variety of mobility devices -- to use a cane sometimes and a walker others.
"Staying active is a key component to staying healthy and maintaining mobility and function," Dr. Nancy Gell, an expert in physical therapy at the University of Vermont and lead author of the new study, said in a press release. "It's important for people to use the device that best matches their needs in order to stay as mobile as possible, but safely."
The research is set to be published in the forthcoming issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
