There was a boost into my feed that said (in part) 'doctors often say "using a [mobility device] makes you sicker"'.
And I am still thinking about this because this because I heard it literally zero times from health professionals over the course of Lut's 7 years of illness. No one ever said he shouldn't use a cane/walker/wheelchair. Most medical places made a point of offering him a wheelchair if he needed to go more than a few hundred feet inside a complex.
To be clear, I'm not saying 'this doesn't happen' -- I'm sure it happens to other people!
I suspect the primary effect is "what are you diagnosed with?" People who have well-understood conditions where doctors know health will generally decline and fall risk is higher (like cancer or aging) are likely to encourage patients to use whatever assistive devices will prevent/mitigate fall risk.
Whereas young/middle-aged folks with poorly-understood chronic conditions might hear a take more like "physical activity will do you good so you're better off walking rather than using a wheelchair". (No idea if there's any merit to this take.)
But it just struck me because I personally have only heard the opposite scenario. (In my case, where older people refused to use devices they need and got hurt falling. 
)
musings from a young chronically ill person who doesnt currently use any mobility aids
@rowyn i mean, there are many health benefits associated with physical activity…but if you can walk comfortably 200 ft & roll a mile cumulatively over the course of the day, or walk painfully 500 ft and then spend the rest of the day bed-bound the first option is clearly the one that allows the person to be moving more. But a lot of people, including drs, assume that the mere option of using a wheelchair means someone will never stand up again, somehow, or like that mile wheeling doesnt count as physical activity at all (even if someone is pushing you you’re still sitting up & stabilizing your core and all that!)
I’m glad Lut was never shamed for using mobility aids, and that they were actively offered instead.
