PHYSICAL TRAINING

Manawatu Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 4600, 23 January 1936, Page 2

PHYSICAL TRAINING

Pitfalls in physical training were discussed by Dr. Ronald Cove,Smith, the former England Rugby captain, and now child expert of King’s 'College Hospital, in an Institute of Health lecture. “The fallacy of straining exercises,” he said, “of the insistent demand to ‘hold it/ and of working against insistence, had long been apparent to me, and, heavily muscled as I naturally am, all my endeavour in personal training has been upon improving speed, agility and quickness oft the mark.” The “second wind” was not the relief that was popularly supposed. “Athletes,” Dr. Cove-Smith said, “should consider whether in place of developing a ‘second wind/ which is really a readjustment of respiration and pulse rate balance at a higher ratio, they. are not gradually producing a condition of emphysema, that will only leave them ‘broken winded’ in the end.” Physical exhaustion was due to an in the acidity of the sheath of the muscle fibres; and the conditions necessary for speedy recovery were a good blood sugar level, a good circulation and adequate aeration of the blood. Those who found their Sundays made miserable following Saturday exercise were failing in one or more of these respects. “Athlete’s heart” was exceedingly rare in the trained athlete, but might be produced when the heart muscles were poisoned, as by a cold or influenza. Taking heavy exercise with even the slightest “temperature” was a risk which he would never countenance, however great the disappointment which might be caused. Two other factors which he suggested should be borne in mind were the provision of adequate rest periods, and the undesirability of talking exercise in a heavy, hot and dusty atmosphere. “Indiscriminate exploitation of the physical side of life,” Dr. Cove-Smith . summed up, “may lead to complications which will react unfavourably upon the individual and the community. Careful thought is necessary in order to be certain that a correct type of exer- ■ cises is carried out; that the quality and amount of exercise is suitable; that the surroundings are beneficial; and that the instructors are properly qualified for the job in hand. At the same time, I believe that we shall not be far from the truth if we-assume that the co--ordination of mind and muscle through exercise of th,e correct type, amount and quality has a definitely stimulating effect on the brain.”