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

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as possible to one side and back. The patient supports her hands firmly on her hips. Turn left and right alternately, but very slowly. Note.—Even in this wholly passive form, the turning exercise has merits, but it is even more important if it can be carried out as a form of resistance to pressure. It may contribute greatly to the recovery and tonicity of certain groups of muscles, which have hitherto been, perforce, neglected. (b) Active.—The pelvis is kept motionless, in the same way as described under (a) ; then the upper portion of the trunk is turned alternately, so far as possible to the right and to the left. This must be done slowly, for all swings and jerks are to be avoided. (28) Leg Raising Sideways (Fig. 41). The patient stands in front of a table supporting herself by the edge. First initial position : then one leg is raised sideways very slowly and stretched at full length. The patient should be careful not to bend her body sideways above the waist in order to balance the leg. Practice alternately left and right. Note.—After all leg exercises (whether lifting and lowering, rotation or the " Scissors," etc.), there should be special suppling or relaxation movements. It is perhaps best for the patient to lie on her back and shake her legs, lifting them and kicking gently " like a beetle on its back," and her arms may take part in the same movements. Otherwise, she can easily get muscular pains and cramp, and has not the organic refreshment which should be the result of gym- nastics, and which can only be afforded by a due rhythmic balance of tension and relaxation. I would cite the following further exercises for this puerperal phase, i.e., after the first fortnight : Nos. 3, 6, 7, 10 and 11 (as originally described on p. 109 and shown in Fig. 29) and 12 of the Pregnancy Group (Chapter XIII.). Arm exercises, extension, flexion, lifting, lowering, for- wards, sideways and upwards—with deep breathing—may