According to data from the National Health Interview Survey, just over 6.8 million community-resident Americans use assistive devices to help them with mobility. Of this group, 1.7 million persons use a wheelchair or scooter and 6.1 million persons use other mobility devices such as canes, crutches, or walkers. Osteoarthritis is by far the most prevalent condition associated with mobility device use, affecting 1.2 million mobility device users as the primary cause of disability.
Stroke is the second most prevalent condition.
About half the wheelchair users must use steps to enter or exit their home. Approximately 80 percent of wheelchair users report that their local public transportation system is difficult to use or to get to. Walker use is reported by 1.8 million persons and crutches are used by 566,000 persons. About half of the people or their families pay for mobility devices on their own. The Employment of Persons with Limitations in Physical Functioning, 2000.