I have long had RSI (repetitive strain injury) problems with my hands, wrists and arms when I knit too much. It can be anything from pain to numbness to stinging to stiffness, and it keeps me from knitting as much as I’d like (and I haven’t been knitting much at all lately because I’ve been on the computer too much, which also hurts my hands and arms).
I know all the right things to do — stretch before, during and after knitting sessions, rest between rows, sit with my arms propped up, use circular needles, ice when I need to — but I don’t always actually do those things, so it’s nice to be reminded what’s best for our bodies when we knit so that we can do it comfortably for longer periods.
This post from Love Knitting has a great rundown of things you can do to make knitting more comfortable, and it covers a lot of the ground I just mentioned, as well as a few other things.
I’d love to know what you do to make yourself comfortable and to avoid or recover from knitting-related injuries.
[Photo via Love Knitting.]
Too late for me. I knitted my way to carpal tunnel syndrome. It was my own fault for knitting for hours & hours every day of the week so am glad to see this being addressed here. My first surgery is in 2 weeks and then the other hand will have surgery 8 weeks later. Avoid obsessive knitting or you will end up like me.
I have RSDS have had for 20 yrs just in my left hand and I am left handed I agree if I over use it I get into trouble thanks for the exercises brings me back to the days of PT !!!! Pace yourself !!!
I got the pains in thumb and forefinger from knitting and crocheting for hours on end each day so badly I had to rest my hands for two whole weeks. What I did to end the pain was to change the positions of my fingers: for crocheting, I altered how my right thumb was angled during my work> I just slightly bent my thumb instead of having it turned up on the hook, as most people do and were taught to hold the hook. In knitting I just barely changed positions of my fingers on the needle and yarn, it took some getting used to, but it worked!! The pain does not arise on account of stress on the digit, but because of the repetitive motions. Once you alter your hand/finger position just slightly, it will stop the repetition on the same joint(s).