ABSTRACT
Since the publication of the Institute of medicine report, To Err Is Human: Building a safer health system, notes that errors in health care are a significant cause of death and injury and the emphasis on patient safety has steadily increased. The rehabilitation professionals engaged for the management of patient with locomotor disabilities should incorporate elements of patient safety into their practices and also to stimulate research associated with prevalence of analysis of error/harm which occurs during the rehabilitation phase and also to develop and validate certain specific measuring tools and instruments for patient safety issues.
ABSTRACT
The common types of disabilities in adults are those of the locomotor system which affects mobility, those affecting activities of daily living (ADL), hearing and sight. These disabilities may be caused by a variety of diseases. Diseases of musculoskeletal, neurological, eye, ear, and psychiatric origin, as well as cancers, may lead to impairments which when severe lead to disability in mobility as well as in performing essential self-care activities. Important impairments to consider with regards to mobility and dependency are lower and upper extremity impairments, visual/ hearing impairment, affective disorders and poor balance. Ambulation is not only affected by impairments to lower limb but also by compromised cardiopulmonary status.