Abdominal muscle

“ The dorsal muscles press inward from the back and assist the abdominal muscles to regulate the action of the diaphragm. The costal and intercostal muscles cause the ribs to expand and contract, thus enlarging and decreasing the capacity of the cavity that contains the lungs. The abdominal muscles act directly on the diaphragm, causing it to fall and rise. The diaphragm supports the lungs and is the only muscle that comes in contact with them. ”

“ Deep inspiration, closure of the glottis, downward pressure of the diaphragm, and contraction of the abdominal muscles are accessory, but not essential, to the expulsion of feces from the rectum. In certain persons, and occasionally in all persons, especially in diseases where the fecal mass is in a semi-fluid or fluid form, the strongest effort of the will cannot resist the expulsive contractions of the rectal muscle. The sphincter is kept in a state of tonic contraction by a nervous centre situated in the lumbar portion of the spinal cord. ”

“ The abdominal muscles should be relaxed so that the stomach and bowels are neither distended nor contracted, but are held naturally.
Note II. The movements can, of course, also be done with one hand, but because pressure should be fairly strong (especially in stout people) to influence the digestive and abdominal organs and the nerve-centers properly, it is best to use both hands, one on top of the other. The strain will thus also be removed from the fingers when they are pressing inward and upward under the false ribs. ”

“ By contracting the muscles of the abdomen, the intestines are pressed inward and upward, and then the muscles of the diaphragm above contract and press them downward and outward. Thus the blood is drawn to the torpid parts to stimulate to the healthful action, while the agitation moves their contents downward. An invalid can thus exercise the abdominal muscles in bed. The proper time is just after a meal. ”

“ Gradually, as the abdominal muscles increase in strength, take out one pillow after another, until able to raise the body from the horizontal position. The latter exercise may be still further graduated by first resting the arms at the sides; next cross them on the chest, and then clasp the hands behind the neck before lifting the trunk. In gymnasiums it is not an uncommon thing to see a person with well developed abdominal muscles lift another person lying prostrate across his chest, and weighing anywhere from one hundred and fifty to two hundred pounds, by the sheer force of these muscles. ”

“ We do not have, then, in these organs the fine subdivision of control that there is in the skeletal muscles, for a single skeletal motor cell in the spinal cord connects with one or, at the most, a very few muscle fibers. If we consider the uses to which smooth muscles are put, we shall see that finely subdivided control is not important, as it is in the case of the skeletal muscles, where the movements have to be graded very accurately. Smooth muscles are present in the stomach and intestines and other abdominal organs which make movements. ”

“ When the abdominal muscles are weakened by improper dress, by corsets, tight lacing, or by wearing of belts or bands or by sedentary habits, especially sitting in a stooped position, the weakened muscles yield to the downward pressure of the diaphragm, thus neutralizing to a large degree the beneficial influence of this action. ”

“ The diaphragm is a kind of muscular floor, extending across the centre of the body, on which the heart and lungs rest. Beneath it are the liver, stomach, and the abdominal viscera, or intestines, which are supported by the abdominal muscles, running upward, downward, and crosswise. When these muscles are thrown out of use, they lose their power, the whole system of organs mainly resting on them for support can not continue in their naturally snug, compact, and rounded form, but become separated, elongated, and unsupported. ”

“ If the abdominal muscles are weakened, so that the lower abdomen bulges forward, a tight flannel bandage, or more substantial support, should be worn about the lower abdomen when on the feet, until the muscles have been strengthened by exercise. ”

“ The patient lies on the back with the knees drawn up so as to relax the abdominal muscles; the breathing becomes rapid and shallow, and is performed by movements of the chest only, the abdominal muscles remaining quiescent—unlike what takes place in healthy respiration. The abdomen becomes swollen by flatulent distension of the intestines, which increases the distress. ”

“ As the formation of bone predominates upon the side exposed to the light or the nervous, so does that of muscle upon the shady or vascular side. The abdominal side of the animal is the muscular, just as the dorsal side is the osseous. Upon the thorax, abdomen, on the members which belong to the anterior region of the body, and on the face, the muscular layer is by far the most predominant. ”

“ The pains had now entirely left the parts they at first occupied, and had fixed on the intercostal muscles above and below the seventh and eighth ribs on each side of the chest; whence, to avoid the insupportable anguish occasioned by the action of these muscles in the process of respiration, this function was (or at least appeared to be) wholly supported by the Diaphragm, the abdominal muscles, and the large external muscles of the neck, chest and back. ”

“ This is to be accomplished in a number of ways, the basis of which is to bring about bettered circulation in the liver and more complete functional power. For this, as well as to accomplish many other functional betterments, no single measure is comparable to regulated, deep breathing exercises. Complete expulsion is even more necessary than full inspiration. The abdominal muscles can thus be made to press upon the viscera, especially the liver and great organs, aiding largely in vascular interchanges hence secretion and excretion. ”

“ Inflate the lungs and lift the head and shoulders as high as possible, giving out the breath slowly. Repeat several times, and as strength increases, oftener.
Abdominal Exercise, No. 1.—Several good exercises for the abdominal muscles are here given, which can be taken upon rising in the morning and upon retiring at night. With just enough clothing to keep the body from chilling, lie flat on the back upon a folded comfortable spread upon the floor. Without bending the knee, raise the foot toward the ceiling as far as possible, then the other foot, so alternating ten times or oftener. ”

“ If your abdominal muscles are not sufficiently strong, at first, to do this without a jerk or without lifting the legs, place the feet under the dresser, couch or some other object until the muscular contraction is sufficient of itself to raise and lower the body slowly. ”

“ Do not annoy the patient by pressing upon the back or anywhere during a pain if she requests you not to, but when she does not object you can make such pressure as will reinforce the action of the abdominal muscles. When she is lying on her back with her shoulders elevated so that she is in an almost vertical position, you can stand beside her with your back towards her head, and make the necessary palpation by pressing with your hands on her abdomen, one of them on each side. ”

“ Indeed, abdominal references are frequently reported by most of the subjects. The abdominal muscles become "eased up," or again there is a "sucking-in of the belly."
(15) The feeling of "being natural," of regularity, a universally popular feeling, is described as a pleasant relief from all tensions and habitual inhibitions, or a dropping of one's characteristic muscular tonicity. ”

“ But the damage is not done to the heart and lungs alone. The liver is crowded out of place until it sometimes reaches clear across the abdomen and is creased with ruts from the pressure of the ribs upon it. The stomach is also pressed out of place. It belongs close up under the diaphragm, but it is crowded by the pressure down until it lies in the abdominal cavity, as low down, sometimes, as the umbilicus, six or eight inches below where it belongs. ”

“ If a person lean, or stoop forward, the distance between the pelvic bones and the diaphragm is diminished. This prevents the depression of the diaphragm, while the stomach, liver, pancreas, and other abdominal organs, suffer compression, which induces many severe diseases of these organs. As healthy and well-developed muscles keep the spinal column in an erect position, which conduces to the health of the organs of digestion, the child should be taught to avoid all positions but the erect, while studying or walking. ”

“ In some cases the softened ribs not only compress the organs of the chest, but are also pressed down upon the abdominal viscera, or even into the pelvis. The symptoms arising from such displacement are at first urgent, as can readily be imagined, and are often treated as inflammatory, to the detriment of the patient. ”

“ The heights and lengths in the back, together with the back lacing and back wires, aid in distributing the weight of the abdomen over the broad, flat muscles of the back. The curved shaping of the front of the garment allows room for the abdominal flesh and snugs in under and supports the abdomen. ”

“ The waist belt enforces the evils which the corset and skirts inaugurate. Every proposition of anatomy and physiology bearing upon this subject appeals to reason. Did the abdominal organs require for their well-being less room than we find in the economy of nature, less room would have been provided. Nature bestows not grudgingly, neither does she lavish beyond the requirements of perfect health.
The same laws which govern the nutrition of muscles, apply also to the vital organs. Pressure that impedes circulation of blood through them must suppress their functions proportionally. ”