Mechanical exercise as a means of cure : being a description of The Zander Institute, London (7 Soho Square), its history, appliances, scope, and object / edited by the Medical Officer to the Institution.

Date:
1883
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Mechanical exercise as a means of cure : being a description of The Zander Institute, London (7 Soho Square), its history, appliances, scope, and object / edited by the Medical Officer to the Institution. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    D 19. ELEVATION OF THE PELVIS. (Passive.) This apparatus consists of a sofa divided into two portions, the front part being fixed; the back part is so constructed as to rise and fall in angular motion. The patient must lie forwards on the bench so that the thigh rests on the front edge of the move- able part of the bench. The upper part of the body rests upon the elbows and forearms; these are carried so far forwards that the arms are in a perpendicular position. When the movable plane is elevated the trunk of the patient is raised upwards and backwards at the shoulders, and backwards at the hip-joints. At first the operation should be employed for ten times, and then gradually increased up to fifty. If the exercise is taken as an active motion it strengthens the abdominal muscles without causing any injurious pressure upon the pelvic contents. If the patient lie on one side powerful flexion of the small of the bach is obtained, in which case it becomes a valuable agent for the treatment of lateral curvature. It is also a useful machine in some forms of uterine maladies, and in hcemorrhoids.