Evening star., 1942-07-29
Scisniiiic Attitude
Recommends Limited
Exercise After 10
DF. Fishbein Suggests
Walking, GoIfine, Selling
Swimming, Riding

"A revolutionary statement about
exercise recently made by DR.. Peter
J steincrohn has startled the Ma
tion," an editorial by DR.. Morris
Fishbein says In Hygeia. "Eis slo-
gan is; Rest begins at 40.' Exer-
else, urges DR.. Steincrohn, is good
for the development OF muscles only
up to that age; he says: Exercise
all you want up to 80; slow up at
IS; don't lift finger unnecessarily
after 4O.'
"As far as golf is concerned,
people after 40, according to DR..
Steincrohn, should play only If they
like 1t and not with the idea that
it is improving their health. His
recommendation is that exercise
after 40 be limited to gardening or
walking or both These views ex-
press the modern scientific attitude
toward exercise for health after 40.
THE Importance of exercise for
the young person who is growing,
or the man in training for the
Army, or for any other supreme
effort, is not questioned. Bear in
mind, however, that being in train
ing is not the normal condition OF
the average man.
OF Dubious Value.
"As part of the physical fitness
program, innumerable experts are
giving interviews in which they say
that the Nation can be made ply
sicalIy fit through exercise. Every
advocate of system has developed
an outline of calisthenics in which
all sorts of rubber and spring
stretching devices, rowing machines,
stationary bicycles, automatic
horses and similar machinery are |
being promoted as ideal for the
purpose. Such machinery is useful
for those who cannot get outdoors |
and still must exercise, but Tor the
man over 40 its value is proble- !
matte. 4
Modern life does not exalt mus
cles. The motor car, the elevator,
the tractor, the crane and similar
machinery do our lifting, pulling
and carrying for US. The opponents I
of exercise insist that the animals
that exercise least live the longest. !
They mention, for instance, the deep |
sea turtle which may live several |
thousands of years, and elephants !
which live 800 years. whereas phy-
sically active animals like the dog
live from 10 to is years; the rabbit,
II 1t is lucky, seven to eight years,
and the mouse only few months.
People who work hardest live the |
shortest time. The more rapidly |
we expend our energy the shorter |
we are likely to live. The best ad-
vice has always been to keep exer-
else below the point OF fatigue and |
exhaustion. This is the advice that
is especially important for people
past 40.
Relaxation Chief Benefit.
The man past 10 who golfs does
not do so primarily for exercise or to
reduce his weight; he has learned
long since that this exercise has
little effect On body weight. Exer-
else Like walking. golfing and gar
denings Is xict Important for health
because Of the muscle that it de-,I
velops or the weight that it removes
but because 1t leads to a pleasant
feeling Of relaxation. Such eAer-
else does get you out in the open
air, exposed to the sun. Above all
IT permits relaxation of the mental
tension associated with every day
activities.
Regularity In exercise is most i'm
portant. Those who exercise every |
two or three weeks Will not get
nearly as much value out of the
process as do those who do a little
exercise each day, or at least every
other day in the week. Competitive
sport taken In the open air and
sunshine Is ideal exercise because its
mental effects are as salubrious as
Its physical effects. Young people
can enjoy the vigorous competition
OF tennis. handball and squash; the I
Older ones may limit themselves |
to waiking, golfing, bicycling, swim |
ming, sailing, bowling and horse
back riding"