THE HEALTHY STANCE

Evening Star, Issue 21640, 8 February 1934, Page 16

THE HEALTHY STANCE

FAMILY DOCTOR’S ADVICE Golfers take infinite pains to improve their stance. There arc books written to» tell one how to stand properly to gah» improvement in golf. But relatively fewr take the trouble to find out how to stand correctly so that'we may gain improvement in health. The heart and and other organs cannot work efficiently if the chest is cramped and the abdominal muscles flabby. The bodily machine then functions at a disadvantage, and sooner or later the engine will ’’ knock.” Yet the stance which perpetuates these evils is altogether too common. To slouch along with the head forward, shoulders stooped, chest in, and stomach - muscles slack is often to conform to a fashionable gait. The mechanics of the body are very finely adjusted, and there is no doubt that a great deal of chronic ill-health is due :o faulty posture. The tall, slender, narrowshouldered person is more liable to carry himself ■ badly and to break down under heavy labour than is his shorter, stocky brother. Many industrial companies overseas will accept only the stocky type for heavy manual work. Bulging biceps look very well, but a straight spine, well-devel-oped chest, and strong back muscles are f>f much greater value from the health point of view. A good carriage can be maintained only by conscious muscular effort. The spine is straightened by raising the top of the bead as high in the air as possible, the chin is kept in chest up and out, the stomach in, and the feet moving forward parallel to each other. This does not mean that one must walk like a sergeant-major on parade. But to begin with one must bn conscious of tightening up the muscles to hold the, body erect. Later this will be done without conscious effort. A useful exercise is to practise walking with the arms held above and in front cf the body at an angle of 45deg, and with the head held up so that the eyes can watch a cane carried horizontally between the hands. A firm, erect carriage helps toward a healthy mind as well as toward a, healthy body; for a confident, selfreliant gait begets a confident, self-reliant outlook.