Immobilises

Immobilises is a verb meaning to render something unable to move or to fix it in place. It can apply to people, animals, objects, or systems, and is commonly used in medical, engineering, and scientific contexts. The American English equivalent is immobilizes.

Etymology and variants: The word comes from the prefix im- (in, on) and the adjective mobile, ultimately from Latin mobilis ‘movable.’ In British and other Commonwealth English, the spelling is immobilise (with -ise and -ising forms), while American English uses immobilize (with -ize and -izing forms). Inflected forms follow the regional spelling: immobilised/ immobilising in British English, immobilized/ immobilizing in American English.

Medical use: In medicine, immobilisation stabilises an injured part to promote healing and reduce pain. Common methods include plaster or fiberglass casts, rigid splints, braces, slings, and traction. Prolonged immobilisation can carry risks such as muscle atrophy, joint stiffness, pressure ulcers, nerve compression, and increased risk of blood clots, so it is usually paired with monitored rehabilitation and periodic reassessment to balance protection with mobility when appropriate.

Industrial and biotechnological use: In industry and biochemistry, immobilisation refers to fixing enzymes, catalysts, or other functional molecules to a solid support or within a matrix. This enables reuse, easier separation, and often improved stability. Techniques include adsorption, covalent bonding, encapsulation, and entrapment. While beneficial for process efficiency, immobilised systems can suffer from reduced activity due to mass transfer limitations or altered microenvironments.

See also: immobilisation, immobilization, and related terminology in medicine, biochemistry, and engineering.