The apparatus for medico-mechanical gymnastics, and their use / by Gustaf Zander.

  • Zander, Gustaf, 1835-1920.
Date:
1894
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The apparatus for medico-mechanical gymnastics, and their use / by Gustaf Zander. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    and the raising movement of the crutches, until the patient finds the movement agreeable and of suitable strength. The adjustment considered suitable is noted on the presciption by means of four figures: The first indicates the height of the seat, the second and third the height and pressure of the cushion; the fourth the raising of the crutches. Should the movement be too strong even though the last two figures be No. 1, further lessening of the efi'ect of the apparatus can be obtained by raising the seat and lowering the back-cushion. The first of these measures has the effect that the crutches do not touch the arm- pits till they have completed a part of their move- ment upwards, while the lowering of the back-cushion transfers the pressure to softer and more yielding parts of the back. With delicate patients the best way is to take these precautions from the beginning. On the other hand the strength of the movement can be much increased by lowering the seat and raising the back- cushion. The patient keeps quite passive and needs to in- spire only when the chest begins to expand. The movement is repeated from 5 to 10 times. ^ The apparatus in question is one of the most im- portant in mechanical gymnastics. It extends the trunk in the same manner as is done by suspension on the arms, by which the natural or abnormal curvatures are diminished. All the muscles, membranes and liga- ments of the walls of the thorax are extended, and, by the raising of f.he ribs, the latter takes a powerful inspiratory position; all these effects are still more increased by the pressure of the back-cushion. In oi-der to give the thorax that powerful inspiratory position, it would otherwise be necessary to employ a large number of muscles which are not called into action m ordinary quiet breathing.