Knitting Safely
Sunday October 22, 2006
It's kind of hard to believe that you can actually hurt yourself knitting, but anyone who has sat in the same position knitting for several hours without a break knows that it's true. From eye strain to a backache caused by sitting in the same position to a repetitive motion injury, you can cause a lot of harm to your body by knitting to excess.
I have a repetitive motion injury, or RSI, brought about by too much work on a computer. First my fingers and wrists start to ache, then a sharp pain radiates into my elbows. If I don't stop working, my hands will go numb.
The first time I injured myself, it hurt to make a fist or move my fingers. I went to the doctor and was given a wrist brace to wear at night and told not to do anything excessive with my hands for two months. That meant no knitting, not because the doctor said no knitting, but because by the end of a day spent on the computer my hands were often too tired to knit.
The funny thing is, I knew how to take care of myself, I just didn't do it. It took a crippling injury to make me realize my body is fragile. Now I try harder to listen to the messages my body is giving me (it's telling me to wrap this up soon), take breaks and be more gentle to myself.
That's good advice, even for people who have never had a repetitive stress injury. That's because these injuries are much easier to prevent than they are to treat and live with. Spare yourself the pain and check out my tips on preventing a knitting RSI. Your body will thank you.
I have a repetitive motion injury, or RSI, brought about by too much work on a computer. First my fingers and wrists start to ache, then a sharp pain radiates into my elbows. If I don't stop working, my hands will go numb.
The first time I injured myself, it hurt to make a fist or move my fingers. I went to the doctor and was given a wrist brace to wear at night and told not to do anything excessive with my hands for two months. That meant no knitting, not because the doctor said no knitting, but because by the end of a day spent on the computer my hands were often too tired to knit.
The funny thing is, I knew how to take care of myself, I just didn't do it. It took a crippling injury to make me realize my body is fragile. Now I try harder to listen to the messages my body is giving me (it's telling me to wrap this up soon), take breaks and be more gentle to myself.
That's good advice, even for people who have never had a repetitive stress injury. That's because these injuries are much easier to prevent than they are to treat and live with. Spare yourself the pain and check out my tips on preventing a knitting RSI. Your body will thank you.
Comments
I know what you mean by an injury from knitting. I developed Carpal Tunnal Syndrom from knitting and crocheting for hours and hours day after day.
I can tell you all about how dangerous knitting is! I was sitting on my foot (bad habit) and knitting away and when I went to change positions, my arm slipped off the chair arm and I broke my rib!!!
I have had occasional problems with that too. My neck and shoulder blades let me know when it’s time to take a time out. I’m glad to see I’m not alone.
Louise Saulnier
I have experienced this too. Other than my elbows and shoulders getting tight or aching, the first joint in my right thumb gets a very strange sensation. At first it starts to hurt, then feels cool, and tnen it is a combination of cold/hurt/numb.
Needless to say, I’ve been giving knitting a break for a few days.
When I used to crochet, the same right thumb problem occurred. I stopped crocheting in the middle of a beautiful aphgan, because of my right thumb issue.
I’m going to start following Sarah’s sugggestions of giving myself breaks while I’m doing my various crafts. Because we get so involved in what we are doing, we forget all about time and it’s two hours later. I will definately start setting a timer. My body will thank me for it.
Thank you everyone for your imput. I’m definately sorry that others have experienced pain while having fun.
I am doing a sweater for size 6 with hood and am stuck on the shaping of neck can any one give me help?
Thank you,
Margie Avery
P.S. I have what they call trigger finger middle finger left hand.
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I am a beginner knitter and when I knit, my right wrist cracks with every stitch, is this normal? I have a few joints that will crack like that (hip, knee) with any repetitive movement.. should I go to the doctor, or just stop knitting? I know this is an old story post but if anyone can answer my question on here that would be great! Thanks!