Sex efficiency through exercises : special physical culture for women / by Th. H. van de Velde ; [photos, by E. Steinemann].

repeated more often than thrice in succession. Then breathe deeply several times. (22) Leg Rotation and Crossing (not illustrated). Recumbent posture. The exercise differs from the preceding (No. 21) in the circular movement of the legs outward: they should not only meet, but cross one another. Note.—As the movement here is somewhat complicated, Exercise 22 is more suited for completely active exertion on trie patient s part, without the help of the instructress. It should, therefore, be reserved for the later stages of recovery after child-birth. But, if patient and instructress are so well accustomed to one another and so much in sympathy that they can respond to each other's movements, Exercise 22 can be performed semi-passively. (23) The " Scissors " (not illustrated). Recumbent posture. The instructress holds the patient's ankles as in 21, lifts the legs about 6 inches from the couch, separates them, and holding them level with one another, crosses them so far as possible and then separates them again. In this exercise, the legs should cross over one another alternately, first the left being uppermost, then the right. After this exercise, the patient should at once He with raised knees as in Fig. 5, and breathe abdominally several times in succession. This exercise gives excellent scope for every grade, from complete passivity to active exertion and even to a certain degree of resistance to pressure. (24) Leg Lifting, Backwards (Fig. 37). The patient lies on her abdomen. The instructress clasps one leg, above the ankle and at the knee, and slowly lifts it backwards, or she supports the patient's effort to raise the limb, which should be kept at full length, not flexed. Then, as the woman slowly lowers her leg to the couch, the instruc- tress should exercise a gentle counter-pressure.