Lie back and think of science

摘要

I'm staring at the ceiling and my feet are strapped to an exercise machine that acts like a giant yo-yo. My head rests a few centimetres lower than my feet, my face is bright red and my calves are screaming in pain as Bjorn Alkner, trained in physiology and physical education, yells at me to push the last set of repetitions to the maximum. The exercise session ends and, unstrapped, I give in to the overwhelming desire to stand up and stretch,. Instantly, I feel dizzy and my head pounds. Perhaps I'm not cut out for this, I've been here for just half an hour, but in the other rooms of this squat building at Toulouse's Rangueil Hospital lie women who have signed up to submit themselves to such procedures for two months — during which time they won't be able to sit or stand at all,