The authors' purpose is "to acquaint larger circles of the medical profession with the role played by lack of exercise in the origin of a variety of diseases," both physical and mental. After an opening chapter defining "hypokinetic" as "caused by insufficient motion," there follow 2 chapters on back pain and orthopedic disabilities, a chapter on lack of exercise among present-day American young people, 6 chapters on cardiovascular aspects of the problem, 2 on metabolic or internal disease, 1 on emotional disturbances, and 2 on constructive suggestions.
Most people are prepared to admit that we need more physical exercise, but much of this book is devoted to efforts to drive the point home by all sorts of evidence. Some of this comes from recent work with a fitness-test that has been widely criticized, as in the recent article by Rodahl et al. (Arch Environ Health2:499-510 [May] 1961). Some