AnnieH

What a good idea. I'll get DH to observe me today. I'm stretching every hour or so but FMQ'ing makes me tense.

CoventryUK

Look on Youtube..there is a fantastic excercise called Static Back. This helps to realign your spine!! This was recommended by my Chiropractor and it works!!!

redmadder

I work for at least 20 minutes then get up and do something else. So what if my sewing day is 18 hours long. It doesn't hurt that way. My old sewing table is from a factory, made of adjustable iron legs and a two inch thick top. I make sure everything is lined up and at the right height. It has made a big difference.

lillybeck

I do have a very bad problem with pain in the neck and shoulders and back when I sew but, I have those same problems whever I sit for longer than a few minutes. I have what they call stage 4 arthritis in all my joints and yesterday was told I have figromayalga on top of that. I put small blocks of wood under the back legs of my table and that seems to help. Be sure your foot peddle is in a position that does not cause any strain anywhere. Move often.

pinkberrykay

I understand you pain. I have had shoulder and neck pain for over a decade and it is exasperated by sewing too long. I have changed my chair and am on 2 different meds for the pain. The doctor thinks I may have rotator cuff damage so I will be going for an MRI in a few days to find out whats going on.

bigsister63

As mentioned before this sounds issue with improperly height of sewing or cutting table. Just like when typing your arms should be bent at a angle like a "L" when you working. do a search. There were many good sugesstions about how to adjust your table to adjust to this angle. My DH cut down the legs on my table and then added a peice of double foam insulation on top and dropped my sewing machine into a hole that he cut. That allowed my arms to be at the proper angle and also gave my wrists something to rest on. I saw this method on a UTUBE video. Check under sewing table. I also take frequent breaks when quilting top of quilt. My problem seems to be moving the top around to do the quilting. My arms and shoulder can get really tired doing this. Again frequent breaks and doing shoulder excerses.

AliKat

First I agree, sewing can be painful to some of us. I sew only so long at a time. I do break often for exercise.

And ... most important ... I have arranged my sewing area ergonomically. I don't use a chaqr but a Swopper, which sorta looks like an adjustable mushroom.

My ironing board is in the other room so I do get up when I need to iron.

Massage &/or a chiropractor is great if you can afford them.

For me ... I adapted.

ali

mpspeedy

I have done most of the things mentioned by other posters. My machine tilts forward, I use an office chair that is adjustable. I have a foot rest of the same height for the foot that is not using the control pedal. Everything about my sewing machine set up is designed just for me and to keep my arms and neck at the right angle to protect them. My cutting, pressing and pin basting area are actually on another floor in my house which requires me to get up and move. While I only machine quilt Linus quilts and small projects like table runners and wallhangings I do produce at least 20 Linus quilts a month so I do a bit of sewing. I have various aches and pains which were made worse by a rare autoimmune disease that I contracted in 2000. After surviving that disease that played havoc with my muscles and joints and the wear and tear of at least 45 years of sewing and quilting I am still here and still going strong. I am fortunate enough to have been a stay at home wife the majority of my 34 years of marriage so I am able to make time for my quilting passion. I still manage to read at least two or three hours each day.
My only reacommendation is to set your sewing setup as ergonomiclly as possible. It does make a big difference.

DMotyl

I agree with many things said... Between my own issues and seeing my mother struggle to keep sewing, I have done a few things to help. Raising my chair is definitely helpful. I use an office chair that has that capability and also has a lumbar. I also added "The Gypsy Sit Upon" My Mom wasn't able to use it, but it does help me. Raising the cutting table has helped as well. I have an island in my kitchen where I do my major cutting now. I raise my ironing board for smaller stuff. Mom also uses an "airplane" neck pillow (bought at the airport) with beads in it which she wears when she is sewing. She also bought a shoulder/neck/back "blanket that she puts in the microwave to heat it up. (She got it thru "Harriet Carter" I think.) I think the idea of not sewing for hours on end without getting up and stretching is a great suggestion that we do as well. Some of it is trial and error finding what works for you, but definitely find a solution as stopping entirely should not be an option.

QuiltingKrazy

I received an email at work one day that was talking about "stare-ing" at the computer screen all day in the same position. As you scrolled down thru the email the "text" would change directions - first printed straight on - then would change sideways to the left and then sideways to the right and back and forth. So the entire time you are reading the email you were physically bending your head/neck to one side or the other to read it.

THUS.... you were excerising your neck mucsles without really realizing it! Until you realize that that little movement really did feel good! Even simple things like that can help avoid "stiff necks" when sewing. Same with shoulders just stop and roll your shoulders up, down and around every so often. I know I have to make myself relax my arms and shoulders when doing FMQ. I get so caught up in it and then realize I have tensed up my hands, arms, shoulders and neck. I have to stop, stretch and then begin again the concentrate on R E L A X I N G while quilting. Easier said than done!