Concentration in Corrective Exercises
All movements should be performed rather slowly for the sake of both accuracy and concentration. If performed in a hurry when the control is imperfect, the effect may be quite different from that intended. Carelessness in regard to pos¬ture and exercise are often responsible for deformities, and a continuation of this carelessness will naturally prevent the achievement of the desired results. Of course, after the pa¬tient has become very familiar with the special exercises lie needs, he can perform them more rapidly, but lie should never do them so fast that he cannot give careful attention to each part of the movement. Mental concentration always improves the results from corrective exercise. This is not only because the exercise is performed more perfectly, but because think¬ing about the part improves the circulation in that part and the mental effort creates a demand for better nerve action. Cases are on record in which the use of paralyzed limbs was recovered by exercise when it was necessary to make a start by merely thinking about moving the part even though no actual movement resulted. This is concentration plus sug¬gestion and is of the utmost value when using corrective exercises.