Frequency of corrective Exercises
The frequency with which the exercises are performed will depend upon the patient’s strength and reactive powers. Usually they are taken one to three times a day, in addition to whatever general exercise may be indicated. Comparatively light movements, such as foot exercise, can be taken more fre¬quently than heavy movements such as the exercises on the slanting board for hernia. The patient must always be guided by his feelings. If it is a great effort for him to take the exercises, he should go more slowly and. take them less fre¬quently, even though the movements are light.
The energy consumed by the exercise depends not only on the amount of physical resistance, but on the amount of mental effort re- quired. One should not be lazy, but neither should one overdo. Overexertion may be detected even before actual fatigue is felt, by the fact that the movement is not being performed so perfectly. In some conditions sensation is less acute so that fatigue is not noticed as it Mould be normally, while in other cases it may be well to stop, even though there is actually no fatigue as ordinarily experienced. This applies particularly to conditions of partial paralysis. When the nerves are not greatly affected, the exercise should be continued to the point of moderate fatigue in order to bring about the desired muscu¬lar development. It is well to follow each period of corrective exercise with a period of rest, the length depending on the patient’s reactive powers but always continuing until there is a desire to resume activity.