These elaborate exercise machines were like the Victorian Bowflex
 

These elaborate exercise machines were like the Victorian Bowflex
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"Has the day at school left you a little tired and stiff? With a little torso-stretching, you’ll soon feel revitalized."

Image: Tekniska Museet

In the late 19th century, rising industrialization and mechanization moved millions of workers into more sedentary ****** jobs, depriving them of the exercise that had naturally come through physical labor.

Swedish physician Dr. Gustav Zander, after studying the physics of body motion and muscle building, developed a range of therapeutic machines that could correct physical deficiencies, impairments and ailments, from spinal deformities to constipation

His machines made a sensation at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, where they were touted **t only for their therapeutic benefits, but their general utility for everyday health. Read more...

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