Swedish Massage | Page 4

preferred calisthenics; yet the
manual method was more extensively practiced in Rome under the emperors \
than it had hitherto been by
any other nation.
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      Thus we see that among the ancients the most common\
movements were a few passive
manipulations, while in the Middle Ages the gymnastics of an earlier per\
iod were more or less forgotten.
      In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries well-known\
physicians recommended gymnastics. Fuller and
Tissot wished to combine the movements with the study of medicine. In th\
e early part of the last century
a therapeutic system of gymnastics acquired a reputation heretofore unkn\
own, in movements based upon
a certain action between operator and patient.
      The Swede, P. H. Ling (1776-1839), and his predec\
essors, erected the first scientific system, in which
they adopted the new medical science, making the movement treatment a pe\
rfectly scientific remedy,
worthy of the confidence of every educated man.
      In our own time, Dr. Mezger, of Wiesbaden, has demo\
nstrated certain passive movements, and
arranged them into a system that is now indorsed by every intelligent ph\
ysician.
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Massage and the Original Swedish Movements
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EXERCISE IN THERAPEUTICS
      In walking or riding, or even in some of the ordina\
ry occupations of life, it is true that a person takes
a certain amount of exercise, but there is no method in such movements.
      It is easy to determine how much is to be done and \
how long it may be continued, but it will be a very
difficult matter to estimate the amount of vital force necessary to carry these exercises into execu\
tion.
      For instance, in walking, the strength of the motio\
n depends not only upon the time and speed used,
but also upon the weight of the body, supported by the lower extremities\
. In many cases the strength and
tone of the muscles of the leg are not in proportion to the weight of th\
e body.
      This condition is exemplified in most of the calist\
henic exercises.
      When a person is practicing calisthenics, the stren\
gth of the exercise depends upon the constitution
and upon the weight and the natural activity of the body, which are not \
necessarily in proportion to the
individual's strength.
      For instance in jumping; to a person weighing one h\
undred pounds the exercise may be only light and
agreeable, whereas to another, weighing two
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hundred pounds, the weight of whose body is out of proportion to the mus\
cular strength, the same
exercise might prove positively injurious.
      Not being able to estimate the vital force used in the common exercises practiced under the head o\
f
calisthenics, or in the different sports or games, they should not be cl\
assified under the name of Medical
or Remedial Gymnastics . In the latter case it is necessary to be able to estimate the amount of force
required in every movement, and apply it according to the strength of ea\
ch individual.
      The difference between the Movement Treatment and the common exercise does not consist only in
the quantitative estimate of the movements.
      In the exhilarating exercise of riding the motion i\
s general, acting upon the entire body, no part being
excepted. On the other hand, in walking or dancing the muscles of the le\
gs are used almost exclusively,
those of the arms not being brought into action at all. The dancing-mast\
er has well-developed muscles in
his legs, whereas, unless he resorts to some special exercise for his ar\
ms, their muscles will not be in
proportion to those of the legs.
      Persons of sedentary habits, especially dress-makers and clerks, who have but little exercis\
e of any
kind, are sure to have an ill-developed muscular system. Unless such per\
sons take exercise
systematically, they are liable to injure themselves severely. Persons w\
ho try to excel in any one kind of
athletics run great risks of exceeding their strength.
Massage and the Original Swedish Movements
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      Thus we see it is impossible to estimate the benefit of calisthenics, which can easily be done with the
Swedish movements.
      Finally, in the movement treatment , all movements are arranged in such a way and in such a form
as to be comfortable and adapted to all parts of the body.
      Based upon a knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the parts, and of their proper physiologic
limits, this treatment is much superior to any other, as well as more ag\
reeable.
      All joints have a natural motion within certain fix\
ed limits. When such joints are gently exercised, an
agreeable sensation is produced; but if the exercise be too violent, -- \
flexing, extending, or rotating to
excess, -- severe pains will probably result. The same may be said of th\
e muscular system. Each muscle
having a distinct and certain function to perform, proper exercise of th\
ese muscles, if confined to
physiologic limits, will be invigorating and agreeable to the