Sex efficiency through exercises : special physical culture for women / by Th. H. van de Velde ; [photos, by E. Steinemann].
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Note.—This exercise should be avoided in the later
months, and should not be attempted in early pregnancy if
and when there has been any tendency to miscarriage (see
Chapter XII. passim). This is even more imperative if and
when the exercise is wholly active, i.e., without support and
help from the instructress. In such cases the pelvis should
not be raised to the highest degree possible, as the exertion
involved is certainly too great.
(16) Trunk Lifting and Lowering (Fig. 33).
Recumbent posture. The instructress places one arm
beneath the patient's shoulder blades and presses the
patient's knees down firmly on the couch. The patient then
slowly raises the upper part of her body, supported mean-
while by the instructress and letting her head droop back
limply. Inhale while raising the body, then exhale and
slowly lower the body again. Pay special heed to loose
relaxed drooping of the head, for this relaxation is the only
way of obviating needless and deleterious lung pressure
during this exercise, and such lung pressure is very harmful
even to non-pregnant women. So long as the patient's head
and neck muscles are relaxed she can breathe quietly and
without effort, and thus the instructress is able to check any
undue strain.
Note 1.—In this exercise the couch or table on which the
patient lies must not be too low, and the instructress must
have perfect fredom of movement, and not risk slipping or
losing her foothold.
Note 2.—If no assistance is available, the patient can
perform this exercise by herself, if she observes the following
precautions. She should lie on her back on the floor, with a
thin flat pillow under her head and her feet securely tucked
under some firm solid piece of furniture, such as a chest of
drawers or cupboard against which she can brace her ankles.
A cushion or pillow should be placed between the edge of the
piece of furniture and the woman's legs to avoid bruising.
The arms lie sloping slightly outwards, so that from elbow
to palm, the lower arm almost rests flat on the floor. While
raising the trunk, support weight first on the elbows and