In order that a movement may always be performed in the same way, and thus have a definite and measurable effect, it is given from a definite starting position, which, as far as the character of the movement allows, must be maintained carefully throughout the exercise.

For active movements the object of the starting position is generally to give the working muscles a firm origin. For passive movements and massage manipulations, on the contrary, the aim is complete relaxation of the joints and muscles or of the tissues manipulated.

Besides this, certain starting positions considerably modify the effect of a movement and produce certain specific effects upon the body, which will be again referred to in the description of the positions.

Starting positions are divided into Fundamental and Derived positions. The former consist of the simplest positions : - Standing, Knee-standing, Sitting, Lying, and Hanging. The derived positions arise from the fundamental positions by altering the position of one or more parts of the body. Stretch-standing is thus derived from standing position by stretching the arms upward; Stretch-stride-standing by also moving the feet apart; Stretch-stride-turn-standing by further rotating the trunk towards one side.

In this way an almost endless number of positions may be derived from the fundamental positions. In the following pages, however, only those most used in practice are described.