The Detroit times., 1909-12-14
CO-EOS ARE MADE
STRONG BY SYSTEM
OF GYMNASTICS
Plan To Straighten Curved Spines
by Exercise Is Producing Satisfac.
tory Results in Barbour Gym
nasium at Ann Arbor
Thirty-0ne Out of $50 Freshmen
Girls at University Have
Curved Backs.

ANN ARBOR. Mich. Dec. l3-Out oil
100 freshmen girls at the University
OF Michigan there are 81 who nave
curved spincs. For each of these al
flicted girls ;here are certain exercises
given I'm Barbour gymnasium. by. hath.
crime Biselow. the woman's physical
director. all tending TO bring the coed
back to her normal condition ana
health
Miss Digelow believes that every
public school should have trained
director to intellgently instruct IN
physical science 1t would mean fewer
stopped men and women, she says,
In Barbour gymnasium are complete
apparatus of all kinds. The case Is
indeed stubborn that shows no marked
Improvement after six months cor
receive work. Miss Bigelow says.
For each coed afflicted with spinal
trouble there is an exercise suited te
her individual needs AZ the begin
ming OF the semester an examination of
each student is made, and measure
ments taken of each freshman girl
After careful study of these records,
Miss BiGelow evolves certain exercises
which she considers needful. The eX-
ercises are first given with the girl $
back bare, that the instructor may see
II her theory works out correctly. New
exercises are added when the student
has strength to stand them.
The apparatus used for curved
spines includes table that looks more
like some fieudish torture instrument
of a medieval age than twentieth
century blessing On the table the
patient is strapped. hands grdsping
ropes which work from pullcys AZ the
head and each side The heavy straps
from each side are 50 arranged that
when the spine is curved To the right.
tho lett strap. arranged to cross the
back at Tire place where the curvature
is most pronounced. exercises resist
ance 10 that particular spot, drawing
the curved column 10 the left at that
place The coed holds this position
for from two tp five minutes, accord
ing 10 endurance
Another instrument Is ROLLER,
beneficial to rounded shoulders and
where the curvature comes higher up
the back On the roller the patient
has no support other than the leather
strap across the shoulders. She
clutches the iron bar above her head.
and as the attendant lowers the lever
she is lifted OF her feet and the posi-
ton OF her hands, together with the
weight OF her body, causes tcrritc
strctchinA Of the breast muscles. and
the bowed shoulders can 90 back to
heir rightful place The exercise lasts
less than tWu minutes. This exercise
strengthens the abdominal muscles,
which enable one 10 hold an upright
position.
These two exercises are given TO tho
girls whose condition is most grievous.
For other5 a Swedish apparatus, called
stall bars. IS mostly used. The weaker
girls. to whom Jhis exercise would
proye too strenuous a correction, are
laid HAT on their backs ON the gym
foor with thcir arms extended above
their heads "a l0.pound weight bar In
zach hand In this position, with feet
together. slowly they raise and lower
thci logs. knees and toes extended.
This exercise strengthens all 9bdpm-
nal muscles aud siraigh,cns The back.
~ good student must be- healthy
,no." said Miss Bigelow "All my OK
prciscs strengthen the abdominal mus
cles and tie back. the muscles that on
able one 20 stand erect When one
has n correct carriage then only can
one breathe correctly When my
rirls stand and breathe correctly. then
they are uA the fair road 10 perfect
neaith.