Being ambulatory means to be able to walk about and walk around.
Being non ambulatory means that a person cannot walk around or walk about and would need a wheelchair to get around.
People are classified as being ambulatory or non-ambulatory based on the self-reported ability to walk 150 feet, walk one block, and climb one flight of
People who cannot perform all the activities are classified as ambulatory; those who can perform none of the activities were classified as non-ambulatory.
An example of ambulatory status is walks, at best, short distances with a walker and supervision or assistance (difficulty turning and maintaining balance), particularly on uneven surfaces; generally relies on wheeled mobility; transported in community; may include those independent with power wheelchair mobility.
“Non-ambulatory Persons” means persons unable to leave a building unassisted under emergency conditions.
Healthcare professionals may refer to a person as ambulatory.
This means the person is able to walk around.
After surgery or medical treatment, a person may be unable to walk unassisted.
Ambulation is the ability to walk without the need for any kind of assistance.
It is most often used when describing the goals of a patient after a surgery or physical therapy.