The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-10-11
CORRECTIVE EXERCISES
 FOR CRIPPLES.

ScrIDed-HOW Nurses Can Give
 Patients in Bed Passive Exer-
 cise-Physical Culturist
 Valuable Aid to
 Physician.
 (FIenry steigner, Peoples University
 Extension Society, N. Y.
 Exclusive Service The Survey Press
 Bureau)
 An old-time pilot on the Mississip- p1, when a, new company organized a boat line, was examined for the the obstructions were asked asad he replied, ''No, I don't know where they are" Then how do you es- @ piled, t'I know where they ain't,"
 This story gives the key to the work of the Peoples University Elk corrective exercises for crippled chill dren. Fortunately a deformity does not extend to all parts of the body. The normal parts can be given their ordinary training. A healthy child gets exercise in school, at play, in running errands. and the performance ed from at least some of these and his deformity which prevents the use of part of the body. increases the work Of the healthy limbs: If child wears brace for the right leg which hampers the ankle, knee or hip, the left leg has the burden of movement ana cdTT1eS lI1o W0lShI 1OA both. It cannot do all this unaided- The spine, bears the balance of the burden, and the additional strain af- fects not only the bones and muscles, eyesight, difficulty in study, or a tendency to mischief are the result
 W9uid give +ha eHereaSeT in PaFancIng Tba ieff leg because it does added duty should receive special exercises for easier control of it's toes, ankle, knee and ,-.aI-, in ed muscles and for better circulation. The entire system benefts from cor rected respiration andS the improve ment in the blood is a healing agency which can be directed to the right leg that has been left unnotfced but for the protection of it's brace. This or to protect the joint. This the brace does at the expense of the develop ment of the leg.
 The physician prescribes a brace because it is indispensable, but the atrophy of the parts protected can be avoided; The patient can be so Paced oat fhat t9e nided stradn "h1eh Far inc stance, if the brace is to prevent pres sure on the hip joint, the patient by lying on his back on a mat, with ments for the toes, ankles, knee and various movement of the torso, to in crease circulation of the right side while keeping the hip joint still. If the knee should be kept stiff, move ments of the leg with a straight knee and for, the foot counteBact the atro-
 In this way exercises become cor rective.' The method is in reality preventive" My experience in teaching in many institutions for cripples leads me to consider the de- fornnity of itself less and. less, and to work for its correction throughout rect a curvature of the spine just by work with the spine I am treating the effect" by re-establishing the Rroper action of the toes. toes, foat lost year, by correcting posture, faults in sitting, standing, etc.-the develop ment of t1ae, the curvature t5 largely takes li appear. This is where the point of the story "comes in." The physician like the technica1ly-wise mariner lie. The physical culturist does not emphasize the defornaity, but sees the perfect or whole body. The flat.foot is the diagnosis which the physician sends with the patient The exer- cises prescribed are not for a flat foot but for a normally arched foot which they must develop.
 In classes connected with ortho- pedic departments of hospitals, the purpose should be to make the work auxiliary to the physicians in charge. end exercises for the patients. The teacher prepares as it were the pT0ScT1pL1On. GaI10nIS O1SCndrS6d Dy the physician need guidance to guard against relapse into faults which would destroy the cure. In this way some urgent needs in dispensary the Peoples University Extension Society that sends me to these class es, record is kept of the cases by using a blank for general measure ments with space for special direc- tions or observations. The patient is m easured by the physician when en- @1@ I-s- be measured once a month In this way the physician can watch and direct the case, while the pupil is encouraged by good results or ad- record may show.
 There are special classes for the air class for tubercular children. classes in institutions for crippled and defective children. These are also taught how to assist each other stairs, fire drills, play drills and mod flied dances are given, and mothers are instructed in sample message
 A course of lessons for nurses com pines instruction designed to make the nurse more helpful to the ortho- the care of her body. It is said that the average professional life of nurse is five years, after which she system of exercise which will offset the strain of her work and learn the conservation of her strength by knowing how to lift. stand, etc., with the least expense of energy, she will reduce the drain on her energies. If she understands exercise, passive given patient who is irritable few movem ents of toes and feet without changing the position will relieve the strain of lying still and exercise a salutary influence up- on the patients and nurses disposi- ] ton.
 The improvement in pupils is not only in the correction of deformities but in general health, which is due to the breathing exercises and the la 4n