Feedback Please...

In a few weeks a friend and I are going to be taping a video on body mechanics and quilting with the hope of helping eliminate some of the aches and pain associated quilting. I'm looking for some feedback from you  guys on what would be most helpful? Where does it hurt?

So,please, leave a comment letting me know what you would like to learn. Thanks!

Comments

[Karen]

neck, shoulders, and across the middle of the back. I use a heat wrap sometimes and try to sit straight with shoulders back - would love to read what you all come up with

[Delaware Kay]

I have some left scapular pain after I machine stitch or quilt for any amount of time. It helps when I move my chair higher, move in closer, and rest my left arm on the table. Watching my posture has really helped too.

[Virginia]

If I do a lot of sewing I usually have aches between my shoulder blades and/or lower back. It I do a lot of machine quilting then you can add shoulders and sometimes numbness/aches in my fingers. It still doesn't stop me from the craft I love.

[Paula]

Mine is actually eye strain. I need those bright over head lights but the glare on the back side of my glasses gives me headaches and eye strain.mi solved it by wearing a baseball cap to shade my eyes.

[linda schiffer]

Machine quilting (um, the stitching to hold it all together and make it a quilt:) makes me get cramps between my shoulder blades. sigh.

Linda

[Rebecca Grace]

I found that I was getting some cramping in my hand when I was stitching the applique for the center Jingle medallion -- not my needle hand, but the other hand that was bunching the background fabric out of the way while I was stitching.

[Cindy Schwing]

In just the last year I started noticing pain between my upper shoulder blades. First time was at a card making camp which lasted for 8 hours. Thought I wouldn't make it through the day. Now, a year later I can only sit and sew or make cards for a half hour at a time. I have found it helps to get up and move around a bit to press, trim etc. Any other ideas would be great as I used to sew for hours at a time. I guess at 63 years old thing start to catch up with you.

[Jeri Niksich]

Not sure if my comment would really help as I have had 6 back surgeries thus my pain when quilting is from my lower back.

[Terry]

I have noticed that when I lower my chair to focus on my stitches and am more at a level with the needle, but shoulders and back hurt less. I don't "hunch" any more over the machine which in the past has caused my arms and shoulders to ache. I have found adjusting the chair up and down is more comforting to my back and arms.

[Jacquie]

I always stop before it becomes painful. I go for a walk, have a snooze or do some other activity. Of course, I don't quilt for a living, just for therapy.

[Jane Swanson]

My left shoulder hurts from machine quilting and forever adjusting the quilt with my left arm. The only solution I have come up with is to make smaller quilts, ie crib or smaller. Anything larger I have to send to the long arm quilter. Appreciate any suggestions. I am 60.

[Karen at A Glimpse Into My Reveries]

My shoulder joints ache, so does my back between my shoulders. Also, long sessions also torture on my low back. I have fibromyalgia so I experience daily pain and fatigue but machine work definitely makes it worse!

[Chris]

It's difficult to get your chair, table, machine all set just right. Then there is your cutting table and ironing board. I think showing people the Ergo way of all 3 of these things would be wonderful.

[Sue Roper]

My aches and pains are in my arms, particularly my shoulder joints. Lax ligaments don't help, my physio said I should give up quilting but instead I rested them for several months and now just quilt in short bursts. Correct Quilting machine height and relaxed shoulders are a must!

[Barbara Hill]

For me it is my upper neck shoulders that are a problem and sometimes my little fingers in my left hand. Yes, I know that the hand part is disc compression. I find if I break down the quilting into shorter time periods I just don't have the problem. I used to use a gizmo that caused the machine and bed of the machine to tilt towards me. This helped because it forces you to sit back in the chair instead of leaning forward. I may figure out another way to make it lean again, but as for now I work in shorter time periods.

[Helle Thode]

I also have pain in my shoulder and arms, if I sit to long and quilt and sew. I guess, its the changing between sit and stand up for sewing and ironing, thats breaks my shoulder. Now I figure out how to make a right and ergonomic work station for me. Perhaps it would be to stay up and sew and not to sit? I will try it and also just sew for 45 min and then pause and do some fitness and stretching :-)

[Elsa Pimenta]

YES!!!!
and in the shoulders and the arms...

[Ivana Janousek]

I feel a lot of pain in the neck and left shoulder, do treatment but is difficult to find a solution.

[Beverly]

All the above! And a nice soft cushy office chair (no arms). When my tushie is cumfy, less back pain! My hubbie got me one of those large Singer Heritage machines during Thanksgiving weekend. Has a nice large base and the front rounds down..oh my gosh, for me I can rest my hands more and I have less pain and pull on my neck and shoulders. Anyone else find the bigger base helpful on your machine? Thanks Erin!! Oh, and maybe this sounds silly, but what about some ergonomic suggestions of simple hand/wrist/arm/neck stretches/or simple massage to help reduce the pain.

[Eileen Keane]

My hands hurt when I'm trying to machine bind quilt. Having to grip and feed makes them ache for days.

[Stella Gray]

I used to have pain between the shoulder blades but that has been relieved by breast reduction surgery.
A little drastic for some Lol! Now I find lower back pain after extended sessions

[Rena]

How timely this post is. I sewed most of the day yesterday and today seem to be "paying for it". Muscles aches everywhere across shoulders and upper back. Some low back ache. I always where my Alegria Shoes so feet are well supported (they don't hurt today). I did stop in afternoon and took a 30 minute walk which I know helps. Funny my hands are sore and fingers stiff which don't usually happen- maybe this is a sign of age (hhmmm- Nope, not gonna believe it).

[Becky in KCMO]

Ditto on the scapular pain, egg-size lumps in trapezius, low back pain, but what really bugs me is the formation of nodules and stiffness in my fingers that I use a lot in quilting. I need ways to work around using my right middle finger - it has raised the presser foot lever too many times. I'm open to any suggestions.

[Myra Ungerman]

I used to have pain in my neck, shoulders, etc., until I LOWERED my chair. It did a ton of good. I also have pain in my left and right wrists and in my right shoulder. my hands don't hurt as much and don't develop the "nodules" since I began using the "Hand-eze" fingerless gloves when I sew or quilt.

[SherriD]

Almost 60 here, quilting on a regular sewing machine. Shoulders and hands ache. I've learned to take LOTS of breaks!