The therapeutic value of motion / by G.H. Patchen.

  • Patchen, G. H.
Date:
[1884]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The therapeutic value of motion / by G.H. Patchen. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    strength; promotes the nutrition of all portions of the body; overcomes the action of gravitation which would cause stagnation of the blood and other fluids and consequent congestion and inflam¬ mation in various organs and, in many other ways, shows itself to be an indispensable factor in the problem of life and health. This hasty review of physiological processes, enables us to see to what extent vital phenomena depend upon mechanical agencies and how readily they may be affected by them. If, as is undoubtedly the case, disease is nothing more or less than modified vitality occasioned by some imperfect or diminished action of the mechanical part of vital activities, is it not reasonable to infer that it can be removed and health re-established by such mechanical processes as will restore the deficient physiological ac¬ tion in those parts in which it is lacking ? The inference is both logical and practicable and embodies the fundamental principles of the movement cure. Movements, in some of the forms previously mentioned, can be so applied as to affect any organ or portion of the body, increasing vital action where it is de¬ ficient and decreasing it where it is in excess, thus restoring that harmonious equilibrium of the different organs upon which health depends. When the patient possesses a considerable degree of strength, the single or active movements may be used. When the debility is great and nervous action excessive, the passive and pass¬ ive-active or duplicated movements are most effective. Duplicated movements are those made by the patient with assistance. They are of two kinds. In one the power to make the movement is par¬ tially supplied by the operator. In the other the movement is made entirely by the patient, but the quality, amount and duration of the movement is entirely under the control of the operator. Duplicated movements are the most important, in a therapeutic sense, of all oth¬ ers. “ They may be confined mainly to any particular anatomical di¬ vision or physiological function,.to the nerve, to the muscles, or may influence all together. They are adapted to the most feeble invalid or to the strongest persons, and need never produce effects beyond the requirements of the invalid or the intention of the operator.” There is one form of passive motion of great value in the treat¬ ment of many of the severer forms of chronic disease, which seems to be but little known by the profession, but I am sure it will grow