Swedish Movement Positions

The Swedish Movements are a series of systematic exercises therapeutically applied to the human body. "Every exercise the direction and the duration of which are fixed is a movement" That is the definition of a movement given to us by the Swede, P. H. Ling, who lived and worked in the early part of the last century. He erected the first system of scientific movements, as before his time no approach had been made to a method of designating and classifying the positions and various movements of the body for the purposes contemplated in the MOVEMENT CURE. In every science terminology is necessary; so even in this. Ling gave every movement a complicated or double name, the first part of which indicated the position which the patient must assume, the second part telling the nature of the movement itself; for instance, sitting, rotation of the arms. Thus it is left to us to first analyze the positions and afterward the movements.

POSITIONS.
Movements may be given or performed in many different positions of the body. It is necessary to have a commencing, intermediate; and terminating position. Ling said that to render any movement definite and exact, a point of departure, a point of termination, and the line through which the body or any of its parts must pass, are to be clearly determined, as well as the rhythm of the action itself. There are in Ling's system five principal or fundamental positions - viz.:

• 1. STANDING,
• 2. SITTING,
• 3. LYING,
• 4. KNEELING,
• 5. SUSPENDING.

Standing. - In this position, the legs, trunk, and head are erect. The heels should be together and the feet should form right angles. The arms should be kept at sides (see Fig. 33).
Sitting. - In this position the buttocks and the posterior part of the thigh rest against the chair or sofa. The legs, close together, form right angles with the thighs. The trunk and head should be erect (see Fig. 34).
Kneeling. - The body rests upon the knees and the anterior part of the legs. The feet should be kept outside of the supporting part, as demonstrated in Fig. 35.
Lying. - In this position, the patient's body rests against the sofa or bed with the head, the back and the legs (see Fig. 36).

Suspending. - In this position the patient is to grasp a horizontal bar that is elevated so that the feet do not touch the floor. There should be the same distance between the hands on the bar as between the shoulders (see Fig. 37). Theposition is very tiresome, as it, to a certain extent, prevents respiration and circulation, on account of the extension of the thorax. It should be used with great care; and if the patient is weak, support his sides until he becomes accustomed to it. From each one of these principal positions Ling formed many derivatives or subdivisions of positions. We only mention the most important, and the illustrations will enable the reader to fully understand them.