This post has a double purpose. One, to support this important sector of society that in some way has suffered some mishap, and therefore, people who are unable to walk or perform this practice with difficulty. Two, to present indispensable elements so that in the near future it will be easier for them to perform this natural exercise, either by the use of electronic and mechanical devices that can be used or by new regulatory and legal provisions -to be designed and issued- to regulate urban, architectural, engineering and other disciplines projects -to be incorporated- to define a New Paradigm in the future regarding this fundamental activity of the human being.
It is very considerable this social sector that is somehow unable to walk in a regular way; it has been mentioned -at present- that about 1/5 of the people suffer from some kind of disability that prevents them from walking; that is to say, 2 out of 10 people do not do this practice due to restrictions in their physical mobility.
In general, we could refer to this social sector as the group of people who have limited mobility (reduced or restricted) for the practice of walking.
In order to smooth these 2 purposes I have defined two series of posts that I will be presenting in the future.
The first scenario will be addressed with the technical and regulatory mechanisms that we have at the present time. I will comment on all of them to the best of my ability. The legal dispositions vary from one country to another, from one city to another, from one town to another; so each person should investigate this information in their place of residence (technical and legal), as well as the services, support and assistance that can be obtained for this social sector, in order to better carry out this fundamental practice. It will depend on each person according to their physical-social position and where they are located.
In the second scenario, we will achieve it (in a plural way) through an invitation that I have already made through several posts that belong to a series of them that will lead us to define a NEW PARADIGM IN THE WALK (Posts THE 9TH GENERATION OF MODERN AGE CREATIVITY AND WALKING. PART I of IX; THE WALK-RWD SYSTEM AND THE INTERDISCIPLINARY FLOW OF IDEAS. PART II of IX; WALKING: A NECESSARY DISCIPLINARY HYBRIDIZATION.PART III of IX; HOMO SOCIABILIS OR SOCIALIS? HUMAN AGGRESSION WALKING IN CROWDED PLACES. PART IV of IX). The incorporation of this social sector in the integration of this New Paradigm has a relevance of the first order, and for that reason, its great problem must be incorporated in the legal dispositions, as well as in the urban and architectural engineering projects, forever and continuously.
With respect to the efforts that have been made, I have been able to detect very significant results, both in propositional documents and in practical programs, which I will present throughout the development of these 2 series of Posts, according to the relevant importance they have in each one of them.
The post PEOPLE WITH RESTRICTED MOBILITY IN THE NEW WALKING PARADIGM. PART V of IX, to be presented in the month of June 2023, belongs to the second scenario.
This part 1, which we develop below, belongs to the first scenario, and the number of posts that will make up the series will be defined as we carry out our research to obtain the largest amount of information to support this social sector, according to the present availability, both technical (physical, mechanical and electronic devices), legal and public and private assistance.
Let us keep in mind that the WALK-RWD System is not only oriented to people who can walk without any problem, but also to those who have suffered an accident and cannot walk for a certain period of time or permanently. That is to say, it has also been designed for those individuals who cannot walk because both lower limbs are in bad condition, as well as for that group of people who can walk but one of their lower limbs does not work properly and needs a crutch or cane for support (diseases such as poliomyelitis). It has also been designed for those who have their 2 lower limbs in good condition, who of course can use their 2 legs properly but have some mobility restriction that prevents them from walking regularly, such as loss of sight in one or both eyes, problems in the hips, spine, etc.
Although it is true that the WALK-RWD system works considering walking as the fundamental activity, it is also true that the other 3 activities – reading, writing and drawing – are an essential part within its functional structure; in addition to others that are incorporated for its full development, such as meditation, contemplation, abstraction, motivation, passion, relaxation, concentration, playing, free time, leisure, solitude, emotional relief, etc., which are concomitant effects of those or can be incorporated to complement and enhance them.
I have been able to design some exercises that although they do not completely substitute the practice of walking, do lead us to exercise a high percentage of the impressions and beneficial impacts on our whole body, on the organs, systems, and glands. The future Post EXERCISES THAT ARE PARTLY A SUBSTITUTE OF THE PRACTICE OF WALKING -could this be post # 2 of the 1st scenario- is the series of exercises that can support these people who can not fully exercise the practice of walking. There are several diseases that can subtract a full walking, however, yes it can be done although less complete way, and failing that, we can use the exercises that are exposed in the previous post mentioned.
On the fundamental activity, I would like to emphasize that even for those people who are physically unable to walk perfectly, they can rely on various mechanical devices, depending on their discomfort, difficulty or impossibility, including by means of artificial limbs or parts, including robotic equipment that are already on the market, and if you can not get them in some stores, they are already working in some research centers; which would allow them, by means of one or the other, to perform all functions similar to as if they were doing it by themselves. The important thing for human beings is to walk, even if it is limited or partially, aided by electronic or robotic devices or instruments.
Now, considering a person who is unable to walk, he/she will be able to move in a wheelchair or in any other means that allows him/her to develop the other 3 activities, because let’s remember that these are fundamental for the WALK-RWD System; that is, to think that by putting this system into practice we could become a “dynamic reader”, an “authentic writer” or an “expressive drawer”. As we said in a previous post (OTHER DEVICES FOR READING AND WRITING, WHILE WE WALK): “To claim more of this would be an exaggeration on our part. Dynamism in the reader means being frequent, enduring, enthusiastic, practical, but not intense; the authentic in the writer represents a confident, positive, serious, certain, practical and firm individual; the expressive in the draftsman comprises both of the above. Drawing involves the 2 activities of reading and writing, in a graphic way; that is, being a “dynamic reader” leads to being an “authentic writer”, but being an “expressive drawer” involves the two previous personalities, in a graphic way”. Specifically, by developing these 3 activities, very important achievements can be reached in the personal development of each individual.
Walking is so important for the effects it has on the whole human body, on all its systems and organs, that we must make the best effort to carry it out and we should not think of diminishing this activity and much less leave it forgotten: We must reinforce our attitudes of philanthropic (humanitarian) help and look towards these social sectors to perform, with any of these mechanical, orthopedic and robotic devices of support, the activity of walking (Future Post MODEL SIMULATOR OF THE WALK-RWD SYSTEM), and of course, performing the exercises that I expose in the indicated Post EXERCISES THAT ARE PARTLY A SUBSTITUTE OF THE PRACTICE OF WALKING, together with the 3 structured activities of reading, writing and drawing.
I must comment that the types of problems that each future walker has must be clearly defined, because there is a great variety of those difficulties that do not restrict, limit or completely prevent them from walking, and for those who definitely cannot do it, there are some real and effective possibilities to support them to use this WALK-RWD System, such as the exercises contained in the aforementioned Post.
Finally, it is advisable to review the legal provisions that exist in the region or locality where we live, regarding the activity of walking for people with limitations or restrictions in their mobility; and likewise, about those services, support, and assistance that can be obtained for this social sector. In the same way, we should study this social aspect better, in order to advance towards the near future in the incorporation of all these experiences in the New Paradigm of Walking.
Hola Carlos!
Hola Gaby. Gusto oír de ti.