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

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