The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-10-22

Proper Carriage and stride 10 %
HsirssiEso-~Ttg on Brsssh.aa,

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sane u.e'ul directions to ~ fellow
/ III In walking ~ bealih or plcasnr
ere rifca BY Professor Richard 4 Nel
llsaa y tbr department 81 hygienc 81
Amherst college Ia au article conirib
aiel 20 Country Life Ia Anacrica "a
guly Professor Michigan saxs tia, d
- trlsiug bow little Is generally
T Enapa al.out The proI~r cariage
stride aud breathing M this form q
exercise The carriage aud stride 90 a
level ooauify road differ VI course,
/ fran those that are best for a HIS
coantrs aud Differences Ia build make
Il Impossible for sll 10 walk alike. yet
CERTAIN. fundamental rules should be
followed as far as possible, These the
writer proceeds 10 give IN brief as FOL.
lows.
For ordinary walking on city streets or
good. level country roads the front upper
chest should BE- raised Ia order TO give
faA play to The lungs ana heart Per-
sistent attention TO thls position o. the
chest. combined with deep breathing. will
habit and will naturally assist So keeping
the shoulders IN their proper place, isy
this method natural but not conslrain-
ed position OF the shoulders can lie ae-
qilircd
The stride should be shorter and slower
In long distance walking than IN short
lest too long ana fast stride cause ex-
hanstion aud destroy both the pleasure
and prohi OF the exercise For ordinary
walking the military stride Of thirty
inches and 10 PAGES per minute IL about
right for the average man and Ii the re-
suit OF much experience. For tall. active
men and for speed purposes the military
stride Is too short and slow. and the pc
destrian must use his own Judgment and
learn from experience. In races of from
one 10 ten miles the writer who Is five
feet eleven and three-fourths inches In
height. frequently STROBE three feet nine
inches at the rate OF l75 steps per minute
Some writers claim that the body should
be inclined forward even when walking
on level ground. for the reason that this
fayors speed. giving the Indians gait as
an example Others claim that walking
IL series OF falls from one foot TO the
other, and therefore for speed purposes
II Is necessary 10 lean forward. Such
writer's seem to forget that the momen-
tum gained while going at the rate OF
Ave miles an hour Is considerable. and II
at the same time the body IN inclined for
ward II brings an undue strain upon the
muscles which were intended TO hold the
body erect The best argument against
this is that the erect position favors Q
longer and faster stride when walking on
level ground than is possible In the bent
position. and. furthermore, the upright
position liz less firing The best long and
short distance walkers In the world. with
very few exceptions, carry the body erect,
The principal reason In favor OF the
upright position, Professor Michigan
tells us, Is the lessened strain on the
large muscles IN the back and the con.
segment saving OF energy. Women
especially should maintain this position
TO obtain the best results Bertha Won
HIillen. the greatest woman walker,
was perfectly erect. To quote further;
The main difference between the long
and short distance walkers Is In the post
lion OF the leg as the heel strikes the |
ground. In long distance walking there Is |
more action at the knees and less move |
ment at the hips and this results in
shorter stride The knee is slightly bent |
In some cases as the heel touches the |
ground. while In others the knee is bent |
Just after the straight leg touches tho |
Earth. Either method OF bending the
knee relieves the Jar and also the nervous
strain caused by speed walking
For short distances at the greatest pos
,ible speed. as In athletic competitions
he leg In all cases must be straight and
he knee stiff as the heel touches the
ground, and the knee must remain stiff
throughout the stride until the heel OF
he following foot Is placed for the next
stride, There IL also a peculiar hip ao-
ion. known among racing men as the
oil, which IL very exhausting. The
,houders and arms are swung violently
Onward and upward, and the whole gait
. purely artificial and firing requires
ong practice. IL not at all pleasing TO
vitnoea and 10 apt to degenerate into
'ery awkward run. The distinction be-
ween walking and running Is that In |
Walking the heel Of the forward foot
must be placed IN position before the toes
i the rear foot leave the ground, while
n running both feet are off the ground
4 ha