Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-08-10
CORRECT POSTURE AIDS HEALTH
University Authority Believes Many
Diseases Due 70 Diet and Posture.

University Authority Believes Many
Diseases Due to Diet and Posture.
A surprisingly large part Of the ply
steal defects and diseases among the
people Of Iowa, and among Americans
in general, can be traced directly or
indirectly to two causes: poor diet and
defective posture, according to Prof.
Irving King, of the department of edu-
cation at the state university. who has
made special study of the subject of
posture with special reference to school
children.
Very few people stand, sit, walk, or
even lie in bed in the proper position.
DR.. King declares. This is true Of
school children, business men, profess
sional men, farmers, day laborers. and.
in fact, practically every class of peo-
pie. The evil is conspicuous and espe-
cially menacing in the public schools,
where little or no attention is given to
the matter Of posture. Nearly all oc-
equations of both child and adult have
a tendency to produce postural de-
fects.
The gardeners work Is such as to
develop a round back: the teacher, by
bending over the desk cultivates con-
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his mail pouch on one shoulder pro-
duces a curvature Of the spine: the
automobiles by slipping forward in
the seat develops a round back and a
contracted chest; school children by
carrying books on their hips or down
at their sides often suffer spinal cur
vature. Much Of our clothing. too, DIR.
King points out, is so cut that it tends
to drag the body out Of a true line.
One of the most common defects in
posture, DR.. King says, Is permitting
the head and neck to droop forward,
thereby releasing the muscles of the
back and those supporting the abdom-
inal organs so that serious displace-
ments are often the consequence. The
contraction Of the chest which results
from this position interferes with
breathing and brings conditions favor
able to the development of tubercu-
losis, and even digestive ailments.
Another common fault is the ordinary
slouching walk or standing position. i.
which the chest is drawn back and the
abdomen protruded.
It is Just as important to maintain
d correct position -hc; sleeping as
when awake, DR.. King believes. The
same general principles apply Many
home conditions, as well as those at
school, are favorable to bad posture in
children. Often chairs are not Of the
proper height; and again the tables at
which the children study or eat are Of
such height as to foster poor position.
In the proper sitting position the hips
should be firmly against the back or
the chair, the back displaying the
proper curve in the lumbar region and
the shoulders, resting firmly against
the upper part Ct the chairs back The
weight should rest equally. upon the
hips and thighs. The legs should not
be crossed; nor should the arms be
folded. One can, sit In this position
thru long, tedious lectures with little
fatigue, DR.. King asserts.
TO correct these faults Of posture It
is absolutely essential in DR.. Kings
opinion, that a person should have
some sort Of daily corrective exercises
to strengthen the muscles which arc
otherwise unused, and weak. They need
y,