Powered Wheelchairs?

I've always wondered if wheelchairs and powered wheelchairs have any detrimental effect. Companies are quick to offer brands like "Hoverounds" to people, but I was wondering if by severe lack of activity if they do more harm then good?
Are people who receive these already past a point of needing to stay active?
It just seems like there might be a danger of losing even more mobility than when they started, but I have no information to base this on, hence the question. Does "Use it or lose it" apply here?

And just to clarify, it's not really an argument for either powered or unpowered, I was just asking about both kinds.
Cause say an elderly person couldn't walk so well, and decided to use a wheelchair, would they slowly lose what ability to walk they had before?

Hey :). I get where you are coming from and on some people, sure. They are choosing to loose abilities by opting for the easy option. However in some powered wheelchairs are the only option. Take muscular dystrophy, a disorder which means you can no longer produce a chemical to maintain your muscles and they just deteriorate.

When the ability to push your body weight becomes impossible they can continue using an electronic wheel chair for years. This means more freedom. Another example is someone who only has use of one hand like a stroke victim (don't want them going in circles now do we?) Also some people might do weights and choose electronic wheelchairs just because it means they can get up that hill and not roll backwards into the traffic.

I speak from the experience of being a aged/disability support worker. I hoped this helped!

Edit: For your question about old people it depends what they use the chair for. If they are just using it to help them get around supermarkets as they are afraid they would fall walking and they don't have the armstregth for pushing their own weight (which very few of them would). But still walk at home then they wouldn't deteriorate rapidly. If they just decide to heck with it Im going electronic then yeah, they probbably would loose it but most aged people really value their freedom and whats left of their abilities.

I would think that most old people would only use a manual wheelchair if they can't walk around the house and have someone to push them outside of the house (I have done alot of pushing :P).

Walkers are also a great option!

I would say Use it.. it saves lot of energy and makes u feel better ,,, it feels like u r saving a lot of time and can increase the efficiency by 42% according to a survey,,,

My son has Multiple Sclerosis. He has very little mobility in his legs and in his hands. If it were not for the Hoveround, he would be very limited with his mobility. He also has an "on the road" wheelchair. Sure beats having him driving to store or doctor since he can't feel his legs. Does it make him dependant on the wheelchair? No. In the house where he is able to use the furniture for support, he walks and exercises his legs. God bless the manufacturers that has enabled the handicap to become more independant by enabling them to get around on their own.