[Passive gymnastics]

There is at the moment a continuous proliferation of gymnasium centres, among which the so-called "Centres of passive or activated gymnastic" have recently assumed a particular importance. The Swedish Doctor Zander, in the XIX century, was a promoter of this kind of gymnastics, utilizing instruments invented by him. These instruments were able to perform fundamental movements without needing the active participation of the person involved. Today's machinery for passive gymnastics no longer have the therapy or rehabilitation as their main purpose, but their present first purpose is more aesthetic than scientific. The ancient and modern machinery for passive gymnastics, is sometimes an imitation of the action of a massager.