CIVILIZED DEFORMITIES
By. A. MACGOWAN IN these days. when more and more people are engaged in occupations involving -little physical exertion, several deformities rare among those leading a more natural life have become common.
The main cause of such abnormalities is muscular Weakness, due to the absence of reasonable exercise evenly spaced throughout the week, and to the lack of fresh air and sunlight during the working day. In the evenings, if one is mentally exhausted; thete is little inclination for games of a strenuous nature ; whilst the week-end is frequently spent in straining muscles unused to heavy muscular effort. The lack of fresh air lowers the resistance of the body to infection, and hinders the recuperative power of its various components.
The muscles, by retaining the bones in their natural relationship, add considerably to the strength of the body. If for any reason the muscular sy8tem is reduced in efficiency, the bones are called upon to bear a greater load than they can normally hold, and changes in shape, and variations in position, may result. This is par- ticularly noticeable in the child, as the growing bones readily adapt themselves to new stresses and strains.
In the early years of life when the child is at school, the commonest results of muscular weakness are lateral spinal curvature or Scoliosis, and flat foot. If a child is allowed persistently to sit with one shoulder drooping, the muscles on one side are stretched ; and, as they consequently work at a mechanical disadvantage, the spine becomes curved and the curve is rapidly increased by the constant pull of the muscles on the concave side. If still untreated, the deformity becomes per- manent, as the bones adapt theinselves to the altered lines of force, and the bony segments of the spine take the shape of the bones of an arch.
- Flat loot-presents a similar -prOblem, the shipe of the foot being maintained by the muscles of the sole. The two bony arches, one from great toe to heel, the other across the foot at .the. base of the toes, are held by a - .series of small muscles joining their extremities. If the mUseles fail, the bones, after a short period of resistance, lose their natural relationship and the arch • collapses. The long, narrow foot is 'particularly liable to this malady, as tilt Tilluscles are long and thin, and the extremities of the longitudinal arch widely separated. Adequate exercises designed to 'develop these muscles will ensure a powerful foot, while any form of mechanical support will allow the muscles to relax still more. - Flat foot, when met with in early adult life, may be the result of injudicious exercises causing strains of the foot ' that are often disregarded. When the foot is submitted to frequent renewals of this exeessive force, the muscles may fail and allow the bones and ligaments to bear the whole weight of the body unsupported. Badly designed shoes which cramp the foot do not allow the natural movements to be performed, and render the musculature inefficient, stultifying the natural elasticity essential for muscular development, and therefore weakening the foot as a whole.
Rest, in. the acute stages, and systematic exercises later, will restore the foot to its former healthy state. The general health must also be improved, as there is so often a diminution in the recuperative powers of those who suffer from the disability.
Two classical sedentary deformities of working years are now completely over-shadowed. In tailors and weavers, the friction of the hard bench commonly resulted in an enlargement of the ankle bone in one case, and a swelling of the thigh in the other. At the present time, the prominent disabilities attending these occupa- tions are curvature of the spine in the form of a forward bend, flat foot, and a loss of power in the abdominal muscles.
The sufferer from the first of these disabilities, whose muscles are already flabby from disuse, probably spends most of his time bending or stooping ; and, as the muscles are unable: to exert constant corrective force, they sag and allow the curve to become permanent. The bones are adapted to the new strain and .gradually become altered in shape. The chest suffers a reduction in size, and the power of expansion is diminished, the lungs and heart working at a disadvantage. With this alteration in the chest, the blood is not properly oxygenated by the lungs, and the circulation may also be impaired, leading to further debility and the formation of a vicious circle. This can be prevented by systematic exercises designed to strengthen the weak muscles of the back, and to encourage natural deep breathing. But active interest is essential, as only too often " slack back " and " slaCk mind " go together.
A progressive loss in. the elasticity of the abdominal muscles is common in the later years of life, but may be present earlier in life when faulty posture and," slumping " is habitual. the organs of the abdomen depend partly on the support of the outside.museles for the maintenance of their position, if this fails, there occurs a sagging of the viscera and a proportionate deterioration in function. Food stagnates and harmful poisons may be formed and later absorbed, with consequent loss of health and vigour, leading to further muscular slackness. .
When the condition is very far advanced, relief can be obtained by the use of-supports ; but, if there is any power left, exercises to strengthen the abdominal wall will relieve the symptoms, and a natural cure will -result. Prevention is, of course, the ideal and any tendency to slouch should be immediately corrected and not permitted to become habitual.
From what has been said, it should be plain that all the deformities can be prevented, mainly by regular, as opposed to violent and spasmodic, exercise. Of great aid in the prevention of this deformity is the choice of properly designed footwear and clothing. Fashion is still responsible for many common deformities, though tight lacing no longer distorts ribs and abdomen. Hammer toes, bunions, and shortening of the leg muscles in women by the use of high heels are still far too fre- quently seen. These are all preventable by the use of shoes with adequate toe room, and 'so cut as to provide a flat horizontal platform on which the heel can rest, enabling it to bear its proportion of the body weight, and thus avoiding the pushing of the foot, en masse, towards the toe of the shoe.
At school and at work, seats should be designed to secure comfort and an easy, natural attitude. Desks and benches must be of suitable height for the occupant, so as to prevent the cramping and straining of the muscles of arms and back. Above all, the " daily dozen " should be performed with regularity and determination.
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