The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-28
EXERCISES FOR THB SICK.
CONVALESCENTS HELPED BY THE
RIGHT PHYSICAL CULTURE.
Simple Movements That Win Set the Hood
Flowing Properly After an ullness
importance Of Exercising while Get.
TING Well-PrecautiOns 70 Bear In Mind

| nave you Oeon III ana are you COHNdIesC"
ing? Do you want TO regain your wonted
health speedily Then. practise physical
culture for the sick.
Physical exercise for a man not yet out
of bed. even though recovery from pro-
longed illness has vet il? Certainly: why
not' Do not persons who are not sick abed
take physical culture in order TO secure
better health. which Is another way Of say
ing more strength And as compare
lively we'll men are made healthier by
proper exercise, doesn't II stand TO reason
that exercises. devised especially for con-
valescents. will materially aid you In getting
on your feet once more end the more quickly
land you In your Office?
OF necessity your blood has become
sluggish while you langushed in your
illness; but now that the fever or what
not, has left you. and the doctor declares
that you are on the high road to recovery.
Il is incumbent upon you TO stir the blood
In order that II may gradually bound
through your body as was its wont, and
furnish strengthening food to the tissues
that have been wasted by disease and dis
use. And you can do this expeditiously
and without any danger OF overexartion II
you'll take the physical culture exercises
which are recommended by Prof. Anthony
Barker
OF course. you must REMEMBER that you
have been Ill. in a sense are still III and you
must be careful OF what strength you have
left In other words. you must be extremely
cautious not to overdo any Of the exer-
csee.
II, when you begin. you find that you
are tired after performing one OF the
gentler exercises once, stop short right
there. Do not think OF exercising again
until the next prescribed time for exercise
comes around.
Then, II you are tagged after the second
performance Of an exercise. stop and lie
down again. Likewise. when first starting.
do the exercises with as little exertion as
possible. and. as you find yourself be-
coming stronger. increase the energy that
you put into them
Do not be discouraged II you discover
that you are able to do an exercise only
once or twice before firing. Even such
seemingly Insignificant exertion will be of
great benefit.
just one performance Of an exercise
will send a sick mans blood pounding
along more rapidly-wil quicken his
breathing. Quickened breathing means
more oxygen for the blood as 1t flows
through the lungs, and the more oxygen
from the air one can get into the system
the sooner will health be recovered.
In order to get this highly necessary
supply Of oxygen, you should see to 1t
that the sick room, which should he thor
oughly ventilated at all times, has bomti-
full supply OF new air Immediately prior
to beginning the exercises Physical cul-
ture taken in a room redolent with the
contents Of many medicine bottles is worse
than no exercise.
The proper time to exercise? Either
an hour before or an hour after each meal
An hour before will give the blood plenty
Of time to quiet down and be ready to rush
TO the stomach to take up the task OF diges-
ton. An hour after will net interfere
with the process of digestion by distribut-
ing the blood TO the various parts OF the
body being exercised.
This rule should be ngidly observed.
for. above all things. a convalescent needs
to assmilate food properly no that he shall
get all possible strength therefrom.
results, you should approach the exercises
in a spirit Of pleasure, and not With the idea.
that they are drudgery. Recall your
former healthy state. Say TO yourself:
Il wonder can do this or that as used
to- and then take a curious delight in
trying to do II.
II you can't execute the thing ofhand
don't let that give you the blues. Be cheer
full in the thought that, maybe. you can do
it all right next time.
And now to the exercises. constantly
bearing in mind that you must stop the
second you feel tired. even though you
have scarcely b gun one exercise.
Exercise I. 1t is q well-known physio- |
logical fact that when healthy man lies
down his lungs o not take IN as much |
afr as when he stands. Another axiom |
In physioloRy is that a sick person uses |
only about one-half Of his lungs. often only |
one-third.
Therefore. when you find yourself con-
yssscTS the first thing You ns should 40 !.
which illness has lessened. You should |
sand fresh air to all the different parts Of |
the LUNGS. and YOU can do II In this way:
Lie fat on your back in bed. with your
Ill Tint you can. hold volr breath MS long |
- you crn without becoming dizzy. and all |
the WI ] tap gently over your chest with |
lirhtly clenchei hands.
The tapping will loosen and make more |
pliable the lung tissues and thereby cause |
air to creep more easily throughout the |
lungs.
Exercise II. This exercise is splei d 4 |
for stomach and abdomen II your sick. |
ness has left you without relish for food |
appetite Is we'll nigh voracious. AZ Is FIRE.
ouently the case with convalascents, II will |
aid your diG's ion.
Get your wife. nurse. sweetheart moth'r |
or DAUGHTER to place two pillows back OF |
your head and shoulders. With legs
straiVhtened out. lie perfectly comfortable. |
With thumbs interlocked and the timers OF /
the rioht hand RESTING on those OF the left. |
strotch vour arms behind your head
Then draw the arms forward. and an
YOU do 20. sit up straight, At first bring
the hands only to the knees, but as you
gain strength try to reach the toes with