In drawing up such a table care must be taken : -

1. That the strength of the treatment is carefully adapted to the patient's strength.

2. That movements with similar effect are not placed immediately after each other.

3. That a movement or manipulation which aims at affecting directly the nervous system, or at producing certain reflex effects (e.g., Head-hacking, Nerve-pressures, Back-hacking), is not immediately followed by an active movement in the same part of the body, as the effects of the first exercise or manipulation may then easily be counteracted or spoilt by the active movement following. (N.B. - In treating paralysis, however, muscle and nerve massage and passive movements are given before the active movements in order to raise the functional power of the muscles, nerves, and joints and so facilitate movement.)

4. That the easier movements are placed at the beginning and end of the table, the harder ones in the middle.

5. That the same table is not kept too long unchanged, but is revised and strengthened as the patient's strength increases.

6. That the treatment, as far as possible, is not hastily broken off, and that the table is made easier towards the close of treatment, so that the patient leaves off gradually.

For my own part as a rule I have followed in the main the scheme for tables given below, proposed by that methodical gymnast, L. G. Branting.

1. Respiratory exercise.

2. Exercises for the extremities, preferably for both upper and lower extremities.

3. Exercises or manipulations which affect the abdomen and its organs.

4. Exercises or manipulations affecting neck or head.

5. Exercises or manipulations affecting back or chest.

6. Exercises for the extremities.

7. Respiratory exercise.

N.B. - One or two extremity exercises are often put in the middle of the table, so that too many trunk exercises may not follow closely upon one another.

Naturally the scheme must not be slavishly followed, but can and ought to be modified according to the necessity of special cases. I have included it here because I know from experience what a great help it is, especially for beginners, in arranging a table of exercises.