Locomotion

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Overview | Understanding loc. | Loc. functions (2) | Env. context | Design guidance | Pop. stats. (2)

Population statistics

Prevalence data | Demand & exclusion

Locomotion ability level (in increasing order)

L1 Cannot walk at all
L2 Can only walk a few steps without stopping or severe discomfort. Cannot walk up and down one step
L3 Has fallen 12 or more times in the last year
L4 Always needs to hold on to something to keep balance
L5 Cannot walk up and down a flight of 12 stairs
L6 Cannot walk 50 yards without stopping or severe discomfort
L7 Cannot bend down far enough to touch knees and straighten up again
L8 Cannot bend down and pick up something from the floor and straighten up again
L9 Cannot walk 200 yards without stopping or severe discomfort. Can only walk up and down a flight of 12 stairs if holds on and takes a rest. Often needs to hold on to something to keep balance. Has fallen 3 or more times in the last year
L10 Can only walk up and down a flight of twelve stairs if holds on (doesn’t need a rest)
L11 Cannot bend down to sweep up something from the floor and straighten up again
L12 Can only walk up and down a flight of stairs if goes sideways or one step at a time
L13 Cannot walk 400 yards without stopping or severe discomfort
L14 Full locomotion ability
Graph showing distribution of locomotion ability, 13.5% (6.1 million adults) are in levels L1-L13 and therefore have less than full locomotion ability

Graph showing the distribution of locomotion ability, where those with full ability (L14) are not shown

Important note
These locomotion ability levels and prevalence statistics are taken directly from the 1996/97 Disability Follow-up Survey (Grundy et al. 1999), which was commissioned by the government to plan welfare support. The GB adult population was 45.6 million people at the time of the survey. Please see the Framework section for more detail.

Ability level is measured with any desired walking aids, but without anyone else's assistance. Ability to bend down is measured with something available to hold on to.