How To Avoid Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) When Cross Stitching
Topics: cross stitch, counted cross stitch, sewing, embroidery, needlepoint, needlework, cross-stitch, crossstitch
Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is thought to be caused by work tasks which are performed repeatedly, thereby causing muscular strain and eventually injury. RSI can be defined as inflammation of the tendons round a joint resulting from regular, repeated movements of that joint. And yes, you’ve guessed, poor posture, stress and overwork also contribute to the symptoms.
Repetitive movements, such as creating cross stitches, can often be responsible for this condition in some people. However, an awareness of the factors that cause the condition can be helpful in avoiding the pain and frustration that RSI can bring. RSI is not inevitable after cross stitching for long periods of time, so by bearing in mind a few simple precautions, you can spare yourself the experience of RSI altogether.
The repetitive movements used in cross stitching involve the change of the needle-holding hand from the front to the back of the fabric, and also that particular movement made in reverse, to bring the needle back through the fabric.
This can be made worse for you if you hold your work in your hand, or on a hand-held frame or hoop. The larger the hoop, the larger the movement made which may even involve shoulder and elbow joints as well as wrists and fingers.
The medical remedy for RSI is rest, meaning complete abstinence of the movement causing discomfort. But if the problem is not resolved in a few days it may be worth seeking medical advice. Anti-inflammatory drugs, physiotherapy or heat treatment may be the answer.
When the pain eases, it is essential to try to have analysed the precise cause of the problem and plan to avoid the movement that is the root of the problem. This will prevent the recurrence of the pain. Also, there is little point in resting for a few days, only to return to the same habits of repetitive movement. Ideally, you should be thinking about taking a preventative approach to dealing with the problem.
To adapt the movements of your needle-holding hand, you can use a frame to secure your work, either from the floor or one your lap. This means that one of your hands is free to work on top of the fabric, and the other can work from below it. Many of the repetitive movements of creating stitches will be removed.
If you tense your muscles and tendons when you stitch, this can be a contributory factor in RSI. Relaxing those muscles is therefore essential. You may be bringing your work close to your eyes to get a better view (in which case, try using a magnifier or having your eyesight checked). Make sure you are sitting in a comfortable position with your back supported and your neck bent forwards as little as possible.
Using a high-count fabric can make you tense up your hand, as it is trickier to get the needle into the right place. If you use a lower count of fabric it will be easier to see the holes. Many people find relief from the wearing a wrist support helpful.
If you use long threads when you are stitching, then it is possible that your arm may need to move upwards in a repetitive way, gradually straining the muscles without you even being aware of the situation. Shorter lengths of thread can eliminate that difficulty. Some people find that if they keep their elbows from pointing outwards or rest them on the arm of the chair may help to cut down on movements.
It is worthwhile to consider how you habitually stitch in order to prevent any tension building up. Try to stop every now and again to see if you can detect any tension in your arms or shoulders, and release that tension. Warm-up exercises before you begin, stretching the arm, finger and shoulder muscles gently, can be beneficial. Taking a short break every few minutes can also break the repetitive cycle of movements.
Perhaps the single most effective habit to include in your daily life is that of relaxation, performed systemically as part of a conscious health promoting regime. Relaxation can be a great way to prevent RSI — and other medical conditions too. Remember that you do not need to curtail your stitching activities — just adapt the way you stitch.
John Wigham has been a professional author and editor for 20 years and is a co-founder of www.patternspatch.com an online cross stitch club dedicated to counted cross stitch. Sign up for
Cross Stitch Tips & News at ppp_home@aweber.com.
Previous Articles Highlighter:
Lake Tahoe Boat Rentals Are The Best Way To Experience The High Sierra Mountains (1)
Lake Tahoe boat rentals can bring you closer to the lake then ever before and allow you to see why it is not just a skiing paradise, but rather a paradise any time of the year.
Don't Let A Wimpy Golf Swing Get You Down (2)
Before you swing, make sure you're relaxed. Contract all your muscles tightly for a moment, and then relax them. Putts and short chips ideally are played without much movement of the body, but almost all other golf shots are played using variants of the full golf swing.
4 Important Tips On How To Succeed In Your Archery Elk Hunting Trip (3)
But if you are into archery elk hunting, the use of the bow is even more demanding. An archery elk hunter must know his quarry and his weapon on top of being able to calculate a number of variables in a given second it takes to draw and release their bow.
Easing Into High Intensity Training (4)
Your workout lasted eighteen minutes instead of the forty five minutes you was previously doing. The high intensity running actually burns more fat and uses more calories in a shorter period of time.
Coin Collecting Starter Guide (5)
There are those who enjoy collecting everyday common coins, gaining pleasure from inspecting mint marks and dates on their everyday change. Others have a collection of coins coming from different countries.
Goldfish - Buying The Best Goldfish In The World! (6)
So What If You Are Planning To Keep Your Fish Indoors? Well, that's a whole different story! It really depends on what fish you want to keep and the size of the environment you are planning to keep them in.
How To Find The Automotive Body Parts You Need (7)
You also have the choice of going with used body parts which may come off of a junk car which will be cheaper still. Virtually any body part you need can be found from lights and grills to quarter panels and entire truck beds.
How To Improve Your Luck With Online Bingo (8)
With that same research showing us that very few of them are over 60 years of age. And lastly, the most interesting fact is that of these females that are playing online bingo, more than 50% of them are playing every day.
Tips On Traveling With Your Kids (9)
Use airline's online check-in services the day before in advance, to guarantee that the whole family sits together and get the best seats (if best seats are not yet taken).
Survival Tips For The Broke Backpacker (10)
Never park on the side of a deserted road. Look for campgrounds around the area where you will be driving. Not only will it be a lot safer, you will also have access to toilets.
Newer Articles Highlighter:
The Lowdown On Arizona Elk Hunting (1)
Even if they don't succeed, the pure challenge of hunting one of the animal kingdom's most elusive creatures is motivation enough. The Rocky Mountain Elk is the most common kind of elk found on an Arizona elk hunting trip.
Working With Dogs Safe Techniques (2)
PPE should be individually tailored to suit the needs of what act you are undertaking, if you feel there is not adequate PPE or it is not appropriate you should use alternative methods.
Pet Products For Birdies At Home (3)
Topics: 1-800-PetMeds promotion code, PETsMART discount codes, PetFoodDirect promotion code There are so many pet products for birds offered that some people might not realize that there is a difference in the foods that are fed to the various breeds of birds that can be brought into the home.
Powerful Internet Marketing Article Strategy To Make You The Expert (4)
Topics: internet marketing article, niche market, internet marketing How much you can make from placing articles and affiliate links on your website differs from person to person. How much you are able to make will depend mostly on how successful your site is.
Support Your Local Slugger (5)
However there are some things to consider before they get grass stained. Baseball pants should be made of a stretchy material that allows for fuller leg movement (and hopefully is easy to wash).
Making The Most Of Your Niche With Expert Article Internet Marketing Tips (6)
You can use these free tools; inventory.overture.com or freekeywords.wordtracker.com. These will be the keywords or phrases that you will base the pages of your niche site on. If there are a number of topics that you like, pick the one that you feel most comfortable with and then, once that site is built and generating some revenue, you can start another site.
How To Make A 15 Second Short Movie (7)
When your films recorded, that's when the inside work starts. If you've filmed on an analogue device, the getting the recording over to your machine is up to you - sorry!
Stamp Collecting - A Hobby Like No Other (8)
There are many stamp collectors' groups and clubs established all over the world. Members meet to exchange or trade collections and even hold competitions and award prizes. There are even more internet clubs and blogs on stamp collecting online featuring news, events and discussions about and around stamp collecting.
Brush Sanding Is The Latest Trend In Woodworking (9)
A smart system came along where the brush could be reused many times over as only the sandpaper should be changed when needed. As the replacement cost of the brush sanding systems fell the popularity of brush sanding grew in the woodworking community and in some cases in the metal fabricating shops.
Fishing With Knowledge (10)
Topics: The Sports Authority deals, DicksSportingGoods promotion code, GI Joe's online coupons Surrounding yourself with the words and equipment of an act, won't change who you are as a person. Reading a cookbook won't make you a chef, sitting in a garage won't make you a car, and taking a break by the lake with a Wal-Mart reel and some worms you dug up won't make you a fisherman.
Permalink to How To Avoid Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) When Cross Stitching