Physiology

The movement treatment is not shrouded in mystery, nor is a minute knowledge of anatomy or physiology necessary to understand its nature and comprehend its workings. Its physiology is very simple and easily understood, because it always endeavors to follow the laws of nature. Motion and activity are the principal characteristics of man; and all parts of the body are so formed as to fulfill their proper functions. By the law of metamorphosis, every particle, after remaining a certain time in the body, is cast off, to be replaced by a new one. This alteration is carried on very slowly and almost imperceptibly, but without interruption. Every one knows that it is impossible to abstain from food and not lose in weight and flesh. This loss indicates that the body is consuming itself, under a chemic process called combustion, by which heat is produced, and carbonic acid, water, etc., excreted by the lungs, the skin, the kidneys, and the intestines. The process may be too rapid or too slow. The first takes place in fevers, with their high temperature and great emaciation; the second, in many chronic disorders, with lowered temperature and lowered vitality.

Those organs which are in a state of permanent activity are most likely to suffer from overwork ; but there is danger of the opposite extreme in the muscular system, so much of which is dependent for action entirely upon the exercise of the will. This great muscular system, with the nerves and vessels by which it is supplied, and the joints which it controls, comprises about nine tenths of the whole organism. Generally speaking, the action of the voluntary muscles is reduced to a minimum. How much of the great muscular system has the clerk brought into use ? Only the muscles of the arm, the rest remaining inactive ; and these muscles are so overtaxed as to cause an irritation of the nerves communicating with them, and the result is nervous disorders, such as writers' cramp. Aside from what their occupation affords them (and that is more or less defective), most persons have no other exercise than the daily walk to and from their business, which rarely exceeds an hour a day. While this exercise is better than none, its benefits are often overestimated. In walking, only certain muscles are actively engaged, and even those very imperfectly. The muscles of the leg are used in taking the step and the muscles of the back in keeping the body upright, but this exercise, with its uniform nature, is of less value than any other.

It is necessary to give the muscles alternate work and rest. In walking, the muscles of the back are kept in a permanent state of tension, so that they have not the time perfectly to contract and relax, which is essential to beneficial exercise. Although, from a purely hygienic standpoint walking in the pure air is of great benefit, aiding respiration, yet the daily walk to a given place becomes mechanical and automatic, no attention being paid to the movements by the will power. It is evident to all that in the various motions of the body or the limbs a change is taking place in some of its tissues by means of combustion. First, this activity creates heat, the intensity of which can be estimated, but not the amount. Second, a certain amount of waste material is thrown off and absorbed by the veins and the lymphatics, to be eventually excreted from the body. The creation of heat, which in a few minutes reaches several degrees, is soon made evident by copious perspiration.

The chemic change produces carbonic acid and other substances, which cause the feeling of languor. This sense of fatigue remains until the products of the change are carried away by the bloodvessels and the lymphatics. By this process, which is constantly going on in the working muscles, some part of the tissue is consumed but the loss is compensated by the nourishment which it receives from the blood. This exercise demands a greater supply of blood and neither its quantity nor its quality can be diminished without seriously endangering health. To replenish the blood, the lymphatics carry the digested food from the stomach and intestines into the blood-circulation. But before it is in a condition to nourish the body it must be carried to the great vessels of the lungs, where it is brought in contact with oxygen.

By proper exercise the respiratory movements become longer and deeper and the capacity of the lungs is very much increased. The same stimulating effect is produced upon the circulatory system. An increased amount of blood is sent to the different parts, necessitating a freer circulation. Thus we find that exercise systematically applied produces direct and positive action upon the circulatory, digestive and respiratory systems. Since carbonic acid gas is carried off through the lungs and water through the kidneys and skin, we can easily comprehend that exercise will aid materially in hastening the elimination of such waste. Of course in the process of combustion heat is necessarily produced, and if the excess is not carried off, serious results may ensue. In health, nature has provided proper facilities for carrying off all heat above the normal amount by exhaustion from the skin and lungs.