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

Try different things till you find what is best for your body. There are great suggestions above.

I personally use a Gypsy Sit Upon on a chair that is normal height, but my favorite is a drafting chair (taller than the normal) as I find I my arms are reaching downward and it avoids the slouch, and consequently to pain. Take exercise and stretching breaks. If you are one of those who gets that knot in the neck, try what I call the chicken stretch -- sit straight up and stick your chin out forward (much like a chicken walking moves its head) about 10 times, then turn your head only to the right and do it again, then to the left and do it again. You look pretty weird, but that knot seems to magically go away. I'm sure your Chiropractor will laugh at you, but will probably show you how to do it. They may not call it the chicken stretch though!!!

I never sew for long as it is too hard on my back, but when at a retreat I also wear a heat belt, which seems to keep things somewhat in check.

Stretch stretch stretch when sewing or sitting.

I sure like the idea of the swoper. Have never seen one, but I think that would work well for me.

amh

Ditto that. My husband said "why don't you set the room up this way so you don't have to move around so much" ... because I NEED to move around so much.

I also don't sew very many patterns where I can chain stitch a lot - so I'm up and over to the ironing board quite often.

The worst project I ever worked on was a jelly roll quilt where you sew them all together in one string, then sew the string together - and so on. I had to keep getting up and stretching.

I try not to sit for time, regardless of what I'm doing. If I'm stitching, I get up and media joints - the pressing panel is on the other part of the space. I also try to create sure I take a crack whenever or so.

When you sit on a sewing machine for a long time, you must maintain a good sitting posture; otherwise, it presses an extra pressure on your spine and causes pain. You can break every alternating 30-40 minutes, do some back sketches, use a good ergonomic chair, etc. Some doctor recommend to use a posture corrector belt to better posture; you can try it. One more important point when you are free from work, you also have to maintain good posture in every activities such as sitting, sleeping, walking, driving, cooking, etc. Thank you.

I am in love with the sewing machines that don't use a foot pedal. They are so much better than using a foot pedal. I can sew with my feet up on a footrest now! I don't get shoulder pain at all now, because I can sit properly..I have also used it with a tray table while in a recliner..(for piecing..large projects won't work like that). It really didn't take more than a few minutes to adapt to sewing without the foot pedal. In addition to the benefits for posture, my FMQ has improved greatly..you set the speed you're comfortable with, so all you have to do is move your hands..works great. Many of the major manufacturers are making them now, and they're great.

Having had 4 spinal surgeries, and sustained a lot of back injuries, I can tell you that posture is very important. I was also told that the best thing you can do for your posture is to take that break, every hour, get up and walk around a little bit -- I've never timed how long I stay away from my chair, but I took longer than just getting a drink of water or going to the bathroom -- long enough so that you can relax those tense muscles. My orthopedic physician also told me this, but my boss at the time, said, yes, you can get up and walk around your desk, then turn around, sit down and get back to work --scrooge!

I'm big on ergonomics and even bigger on getting up and moving/changing tasks every 15 minutes or so.

Get yourself a good chair and a good solid surface for your sewing machine. I've seen people using card tables that moved so much it was like being on a bucking bronco and they wondered why they had problems.

Me personally, I have a long torso and short little arms and legs. The "typing tray" level is never the correct level for me, it is desk top. Similarly, my seat on my chair is lower than people expect because my length is not in my legs.

I've found out things over the years, like the best height for me to cut fabric is standing at my kitchen table. My friend who is taller does her best on her kitchen counters.

I've been feeling a bit bad about spreading my quilting stuff out across the house but I've done it for good reasons. I used to keep it all in my sewing room and could easily not get up out of my chair for hours just rotate in the chair from sewing machine to ironing board to cutting table but I'm trying to get a few more steps in each day as part of my on-going battle with health and life style changes. My cutting station is currently on my dining room table, that's easy to get up and out of the way. The ironing board is in the living room. The sewing room is the small middle bedroom, and I layout stuff on the bed in the master. I wasn't wearing my fitbit yesterday but I can tell you -- I got in a lot of steps working on a tiny little project deliberately going from one room to another.

I have one of those belts that the workers at Lowe's wears. I don't wear it for posture, but support. Unfortunately, it's hot to wear in the summer.

I bought one of those Posture Sand bags Back Harness from Nancy Notions...It has help me to sit and stand up straight...

There is no permanent solution or remedy for good posture. You should change your lifestyle and try to maintain a good posture in every activities.