PHYSICAL EXERCISE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 277, 17 August 1921, Page 6

PHYSICAL EXERCISE

MAINTENANCE OF HEALTH NEED FOR PROPER CURRICULUM IN SCHOOLS Of great interest was a lecture on “Physical Exercise,” delivered by Dr. H. J. M'Lean, C.8.E., last night, under ths auspices of the New Zealand branch of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John. Colonel G. F. C. Campbell, C.M.G., who presided, said that England was the apostle in outdoor exercises, Oermany in indoor exercises, and in France there was a Minister of Sport. "I hope wb will have one here some day,” he added. Dr. M'Lean produced comprehensive charts which illustrated his lecture. He said that the aim of exercises was to maintain good health, with a combination of intellectual and physical power. Training in physical exercises could be traced back to earliest times. The Olympic Games were one of the most famous, and their fall was due to the growing cult of professional athletes. The Spartans, also, had splendid exercises, the system of which brought physicalstrength to a very high pitch. With the Romans, physical training was essentially to prepare a youth for the bearing of arms. In England, in the fourteenth century, a large number of games were prohibited, notably football, tennis, and skittles. This was done to encourage archery. The lecturer outlined the method of blood circulation, and actions of the body. The muscles used in most exercises were "voluntary’” muscles, ones not attachexl absolutely to the bone. Skill, however, depended on nerve rather than muscle; and the same applied to strength. A muscle was no use without nerve impulse; and by that it could be seen how important was the development of the nervous system. Exercise increased the amount of waste material in the system, and therefore the heart was taxed. But by gradual exercise tho muscles of the heart would be strengthened. Weight-lifting, he thought, was the most extremely exacting exercise - - IL. Development in Youth. •Exercise, he continued, would also develop the lungs. The time for such developmcni. was youth. Deep breathing, without exertion, was not much good, although the elasticity of the. chest was developed. The chief good done by deep-breathing was the moving of the, diaphragm, and its action oh the liver and other internal organs. Breathing ,hould be done through tho nose. ".Extensive exercise loses its object,” he sain, "if a person becomes muscle bound. That was the defect in the 'Sandow system, which certainly produced great muscles. 1 saw Sandow, and I thought that any of our fit footballing schoolbovs would have taken him over the Makara hills and lost him I” Excessive use of nervous energy produced "stateness.” That was why athletes always "let up” before the supreme effort Late hours, excess of tobacco and alcohol, and insufficient steep tended to impair nervous, energy. Dr. M'Lean classified exercises under tho headings: (1) Without apparatus; (2) with apparatus; (3) natural _ exercises (walking, running, and swimming). The first was the Swedish system, but it djd not give the pupil any chance of originality” Each movement was done by word of command. An exhibition of these exercises wag given bv a party of school girls from Wellington Girls’ College, under Miss Whish. Exercises given were: Arch flexion (depletion), heaving, balance, dorsal, abdominal, lateral, marching and running, jumping and finishing. Introductory exercises, explained the lecturer, consisted of exercises _ to promote circulation. The arch flexion exercises were difficult, exercising especially the muscles of the chest. Heaving promoted correct carriage by cultivating the power of the muscles that expanded the chest. “Balance” exercises employed all the muscles which created correct carriage. ' Dorsal exercises employed all the muscles of the back and epine, ana gave power to maintain a correct atutude. From inability to do this spinal deformities sometimes occurred. Abdominal exercises, as demonstrated, developed the muscles of the waist and thigh, and counteracted any tendency to hollow back, also stimulating the digestive organs. Lateral exercises developed the muscles of the thigh and spine, also the abdominal “oblique” muscles, assisting to correct spinal curvatures. running, also, all tho muscles of the bodv were exercised. The jumping exercises could well be replaced by dancing and skipping, although high jumping was not a beneficial exercise for women The "finishing” exercise was deep-breathing, to quieten down the system after the exercises. That was the system, and it was certainly beneficial. Work With Apparatus. The lecturer dealt shortly with gymnastic apparatus, and springs and arrangements. He said that there was no roval road to learning, and apparatus work‘had to be done consistently. All exercises should be recreational}. - late years there had been a tendency to too many competitions. The s P°rt was not benefited by cup-chasing “I am glad to think that some headmasters have objected to their teams travelling too much,” added. Dr. M'Lean. The lecturer also dealt with remedial exercises for such defects as flat feet and spinal curvature. In conclusion, he contended (a) flint a certain amount of exercise was good for both sexes; (h* that ihere should be a definite curriculum in schools; (c) that when the size of the school permitted, there should be on the staff a trained games master or mistress; (d) that all teachers m smaller schools should haie a knowledge of exercises; <e) that playgrounds should he made to the greatest possible extent. "Then we would produce a stronger, healthier, and happier race,” he said. Dr. M'Lean was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.