[ubermonkey]

Right there with you.

I have considered myself as reasonably aware for my whole life, probably because my mother was a physical therapist, but it wasn't until I spent some time being severely mobility-compromised that I really understood.

About 5 years ago, I had a bad cycling crash where I broke my hip. (Doing this at 44 takes some energy, apparently; they put me in a study because the number of healthy 44 year olds with broken hips who didn't get them courtesy of an auto accident or IED overseas is apparently small.)

I couldn't walk for 3 months, and was pretty compromised due to atrophy for another 2 or so after that. Mostly, I used a walker, but for a week on a cruise we'd booked, I used a wheelchair. Being in that position even for a short amount of time will really change your outlook.