Posture
 

I went to a workshop put on by my chiropractor where she discussed posture. Sitting at a sewing machine for hours at a time puts quite a strain on the spine. Do any of you have tricks, gadgets, or suggestions for maintaining a good posture?

I try not to sit for hours at a time, regardless of what I'm doing. If I'm sewing, I get up and press seams - the ironing board is on the other side of the room. I also try to make sure I take a break every hour or so.


Janet

Make sure you have a good chair that has lumbar support, have it at the right height, make sure your machine is no more than 6" from the edge of the table, and take breaks often.

Patchsamkin are the posture rules the same as using a computer?

i drink lots of tea and water, so frequent bathroom breaks keep me on track :)

I don't use a chair at home. I use mushroom shaped sit-upon called the Swoper. I know they sell the at Sit4Less on the 'net. It is like sitting on a balance ball and I keep my posture better with it.

When quilting somewhere else I will take my Dynadisc by Exertools. They use this in physical therapy for balance training. I know they sell it at LQS's and some quilt shows but forget what the name is when sold this way.

ali

"When quilting somewhere else I will take my Dynadisc by Exertools. They use this in physical therapy for balance training. I know they sell it at LQS's and some quilt shows but forget what the name is when sold this way."

These discs, under many names, are sold at Amazon or Target or other places where fitness equipment is sold.

"Patchsamkin are the posture rules the same as using a computer?"

Yes - good chair, sit up straight, have arms parallel to desk surface, etc.

The best thing both my back doctor and PT guru say is to get up and walk around for about 10 minutes every hour. This applies to anything where you are sitting for a time, including watching TV.

I set straight up, shoulders back, looking down at the machine needle. I don't lean in, just lower my head and never jut it out. My sewing machine throat plate is the height of my arms bent at the elbows. I took the back and arms off an office chair and only use the seat part. Like a rolling chair in the Dr. office. My grandmother used a three leg stool for her sewing chair and I learned to sit on that to sew. Her back, shoulders or neck never bothered her if she sewed all day. Proper posture while sitting is a must. I tend to sit on a sofa or chair without touching the back. I have to check myself when visiting, some take it as being too prim. But my back never hurts. LOL.

On purpose I never have things within reach. I have to get up and walk to get to the cutting table, to the iron, etc. If I am sewing things, blocks one after the other, I will only take a few to the sewing machine and leave the others across the room. I call it getting exercise, moving my muscles.

try tipping the machine forward --i use 2 door pegs