Controlled Exercise For Physical Fitness

PREFACE

The people of our nation have always shown varying degrees of interest in the subject of physical conditioning, athletics, muscu­lar development, physical culture, etc. Our schools have almost always included physical education as part of the curriculum. There have been and are private institutions and schools teaching various sports and special activities. There are many clubs and individuals who teach physical training for varying objectives and purposes.

At the present time, our nation has been told by competent authorities that we are a grossly unfit generation with the future generations becoming more unfit unless we do something about it!

There is much evidence that these statements in regard to our physical condition are true. The rejection figures for enlistments in our armed services are appalling! The results of the “Kraus-Weber” tests are particularly alarming! The adult man in his forties is an old man, judged by his capacities for effort which have diminished for years. In his fifties most of our men are showing definite degeneration in both body structure and function, with all too many suffering malfunctions such as heart trouble, ulcers, low back pain, etc. With our adults we can say: “He doesn’t get enough exercise. He smokes too much. He drinks too much. He works too hard. What do you expect? You can’t live forever!” However, it is quite well established that most of us could be better physically at seventy years of age than we are now at forty if we would give the body some attention.

Some years ago, telling parents that their children needed a program of controlled exercise met with raised eyebrows, and comments such as “You must be crazy! You just try to follow a child through his days activities and play! He gets plenty of exercise!” About twelve years ago, in an interview with one of our state directors of physical education for the public schools, the writer’s suggestion that the children could profit much from some specific physical development training met with strong opposition. He was plainly informed that our children were being given the best possi­ble training and the results were most satisfactory.

Yet, in checking many children it is a rare thing to find a child ten years of age that is well developed and has good posture and body mechanics. At least nine out of ten children at ten years of age already have developed some mechanical defect in body structure that needs correction by special attention. Among the most com­mon are: abnormal curves of the spine [simple lateral curves or scoliosis, lordosis, kyphosis], poor development of the rib cage [pigeon breast, funnel chest], inadequate support of the abdominal area [ptosis], and pronation of the feet with poor support of the arches of the feet.

We have many strong athletic youngsters, who become good athletes and some world champions, but the number is such a piti­ful minority! These children are blessed with good physical in­heritance and are given the greatest opportunity to participate in our popular sports. They learn skills readily and because of their abilities, are very willing athletes. These children are not our problem until they become about forty years of age. Our problem is with the other 90 per cent of our children. They must be given the help and attention they require and deserve.

Activities of the past have definitely failed to give our children the physical assets we want them to have. This in spite of the teach­ing of sports, games, school classes and recreational activities.

President Eisenhower organized a national committee for Youth Fitness in 1956. President Kennedy has re-emphasized our need for better fitness both in our youth and our adults. Many of our educators are deeply concerned about the fitness of our people and are doing all in their power to help us realize the problems we face. Dr. H. Harrison Clarke of the University of Oregon has said that our nation’s very existence may well depend upon the physical condition of our people. The following are a few of the many educators actively and vigorously doing all in their power to awaken our public to the disturbing fact that we are physically unfit as a nation and urging us most emphatically to do something about it.

Harrison Clarke, Ed.D., Research Professor in Physical Education at the University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon. Dr. Clarke is a leader in the state wide program of Oregon to raise our fitness standards at all educational levels. He has done much special work in the field of fitness testing and the improvement of low fitness individuals. Many of our nation’s educators are using the findings of his investigations with excellent results.

Thomas K. Cureton, Ph.D., Professor of Physical Education and Director of the Physical Fitness Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois has been most active and energetic in pro­moting the cause of physical fitness at all age levels.

Hans Kraus, M.D., Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at New York University and W. Raab, M.D. F. A. C. P. Professor of Experimental Medicine at the College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, have made many most valuable contributions in the field of physical fitness. Their re­cently published work Hypokinetic Disease published by Charles C Thomas Publisher, Springfield, Illinois, is a most timely and needed work. The information presented therein is of utmost value to all of us.

Peter V. Karpovich, M.D., President of the American College of Sports Medicine, Professor of Physiology at Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts.

Arthur H. Steinhaus, Ph.D. Professor of Physiology and Dean of the George Williams College in Chicago, Illinois.

Marion R. Broer, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Physical Educa­tion of the University of Washington at Seattle, Washington.

George R. Hearn, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Physical Edu­cation and Director of the Physical Education Research Laboratory of Washington State University at Pullman, Washington.

Arthur A. Esslinger, Ph.D., Professor of Physical Education and Dean of the School of Health and Physical Education at the University of Oregan, Eugene, Oregon.

Jack R. Leigh ton, Ph.D., Professor of Physical Education and Head of the Division of Health, Physical Education and Recreation of Eastern Washington College of Education at Cheney, Washing­ton.

There are many others equally deserving of mention for their dedicated work in the field of physical education and fitness. In addition to those in the field of medicine and education, there are many instructors in athletic clubs, Y. M. C. A.’s, and private condi­tioning clubs throughout our nation who are making valuable con­tributions to national fitness needs.

Probably the most publicity has been given to the work of Dr. Hans Kraus and Dr. Sonya Weber of Columbia Presbyterian Hos­pital through their “Kraus-Weber” tests given to school children. These tests indicate the specific relationship between muscular strength and flexibility of the muscles of the back and abdomen and the prevalence of low back pain and discomfort in our population. These tests, showing the minimum requirements of strength in these areas to assure freedom from discomfort and disability, have shown us that over fifty per cent of our children are growing to adulthood inviting some degree of low back disability.

Much time and research has been concerned with the subject of “Total Fitness” which is very necessary but so broad in scope that it is difficult to note any specific degree of progress.

The public is besieged with advertisements of equipment manufacturers, sports advocates, health faddists and others. Some of these have merit and some are of very questionable value de­signed to attract business to the firm more than to promote a real improvement in the physical condition of the follower.

At this time, there is much need for authentic information to be given our people on the different phases of physical fitness, such as what our real status is, what the requirements of improving the situation are, and recommended procedures which have proven to be the best to bring about the greatest improvement in the least possible time. These procedures need be described so that they may be applied in a practical way to make a decided improvement in the fitness status of our people.

It is hoped that this work will fulfill in a worthwhile measure some of the pressing needs in the physical condition of our people so that we may be better prepared to meet whatever demands living may make upon us in the future.

The author is deeply grateful for the assistance of the many whose help has been invaluable to the preparation of this work. Foremost among them is Dr. David W. E. Baird, Dean of the Uni­versity of Oregon Medical School, who has written the foreword for this book and whose encouragement has contributed so much to­ward its writing.

Valuable assistance in this work has been contributed by Dr. Alexander MacKay, of Spokane, Washington; Dr. A. T. Perry, of Spokane, Washington; and Dr. James J. Coughlin, of Boise, Idaho. Dr. H. Harrison Clarke, of the University of Oregon, has been of much assistance particularly in the field of physical fitness testing. The author is grateful to Mrs. Betty J. Owen, Consultant on Health and Physical Education of the State of Oregon, for her valued assistance with the Oregon Motor Fitness Tests.

Others who have made valuable contributions include Mr. Richard J. Ferrell, Spokane, Washington; Mr. Andre Lambert of Salem, Oregon, Mr. L. C. Powell of Grants Pass, Oregon; and Mr. David Peebler of Spokane, Washington.

A special word of appreciation to Miss Mary Doyle, age ten, Miss Ann Doyle, age eight and Bruce Peebler age thirteen, for their excellent contributions as models to illustrate the exercises given in the book.

J. R. P.