Sore bottom
 

I hope this isn’t TMI (too much information), but does anyone’s bottom ever get sore from quilting? Sometimes I feel like I get bursitis in my bum from sitting at the machine and piecing quilts.

I’m recently retired, and so I have more time to sew than I used to. I have an excellent chair. I sew for awhile and then get up and do some housework. I sew for awhile and then go for a short walk outside. I really do try to break up my “sitting” sessions.

But my posterior sometimes gets really sore. I wonder if it’s the angle of sitting while sewing that causes the problem. Because sewers sit with one leg slightly stretched to the foot pedal, maybe normal weight distribution is somewhat different than just normal sitting???

Are derriere issues an occasional problem with other sewers/quilters, or is it just me?

Well...I just pulled a muscle in my behind after shifting my weight while I was sewing....it happens lol

My back and hips are what hurts on me. I can't sew nearly as long as I used to.

No, I can't say that ever happened to me. I have enough padding so it's never been an issue. ;-)

Luckily that is not one problem that I have sewing.

A physical therapist friend showed me I was sitting with most of my weight on one butt cheek. This was putting my back out of alignment and putting pressure on that part of my body. I now make an effort to sit with weight being equal on both sides of my butt. That has really helped me. I noticed I did that while driving too!

Here's an interesting article on Sewing Ergonomics:
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/sew...iondesign.html
After sewing at the dining room table for years, I was amazed at how much less strain there was after I finally broke down and purchased a table that my machine dropped into and was at the correct height.

My issue is neck and upper back strain. I am scheduled now for a removal of a spinal disc up near my neck so guess my beloved quilting is going to be on hiatus for a while. I do use a foam padded back support.

My issue is with my upper back and arms/hands...I am like Maryb..to much padding, and I have an adjustable chair.

Hips (sciatica) hurt most and I find myself squirming. I also try to break up the sitting: ironing board is in the hallway, design board on the wall and cutting mat across the room. A dancer friend gave me a trick that works really well. You take 2 quart size freezer bags and put crushed ice in them and then added 3tbs. of rubbing alcohol (fill the bags only 1/2 full). Put the two bags into a gallon freezer bag, wrap a towel around it and sit on the bag for 20 minutes. If I'm really hurting I do this several times, waiting an hour inbetween. It helps the muscles and nerves not get inflamed. I hate cold so I throw a quilt in the dryer and wrap myself up in a nice warm cocoon while my butt freezes! Sometimes I cheat and sit on the ice while I sew.

I just went to the doctor today for this! He said I had glutteal(?) tendonitis on the right side. He gave me some stretching excerises that I'm supposed to do multiple times a day, holding the stretch for 3-5 minutes at a time. I actually think mine started after visiting my daughter and going up and down (multiple times!) gigantic stairs for 2 weeks. When I sew, I kind of perch on the edge of my chair and that seemed to aggravate my condition where it feels like that muscle is burning. It even affects my driving now too, since it's on the right side. Good luck with figuring out your problem so you can enjoy sewing.

Angle does make a difference. I can't sit in a booth at a restaurant because of the angle the booth forces me into. Instant pain.

I used to be a systems engineer, and sat at a computer 5+ days a week, often for 10 - 12 hours.

My tailbone was so sore, but nothing showed on x-rays or mri. No treatment available because what the heck would you be treating?

Then my company did me the supreme favor (I mean that!) of involuntary separation - medical included and a bit of a payoff for years of service.

So i didn't work for 10 months. Loved it. About 8 months into the off-time, I noticed that my tailbone didn't hurt any more. My guess is that I had a chronic bruise type injury and that getting off my duff was the cure.

I have fibro, so I'm sure that was a contributing factor. Now I notice that my hips get sore if I sit too long. Most likely osteo arthritis. So I don't sit too long any more. My pressing station is about 10' from my sewing machine, and I cut fabric at a 36 inch height craft table. The more I have to get up, the better off I am.

Best advice that i can give you is to see a dr.

If I'm going to be standing all day I change shoes, if sitting I change pillows under me or chairs. Helps a lot, so does getting up to iron!

I use a donut hole pillow in my comfy computer chair

At home, my sewing machine is sunk in a cabinet and I have an awesome Koala chair that really is the most comfortable I've found. However, I'm taking classes at the Houston Quilt Festival and the machines are up on tables . . .and the chairs are hard and YES . . .my bottom hurts . . .and my lower back. In fact, it was so bad, I returned to my room for the night at 6pm, LOL

This discussion has helped me figure out why I couldn't bring myself to do much machine sewing in my RV.
The ergonomics were terribly wrong! Machine on tray table in front of couch. Enuf said!
Luckily I had taken my GFG hand stitching project along so I still had a project I could work on. Also got lots of crocheting done.

The human back wasn't made to be in a sitting position for hours on end. I was taught to use my left foot on the peddle. This from a physio. Felt a little strange at first but I don't even think of it unless someone mentions it. Lots of breaks away from the machine, the right height table, the correct chair and sitting in the chair not perched on the edge.
I'm no expert and when I was young sat in some peculiar positions and sewed for hours even when my back was burning. Did my back no favours.

Having suffered bursitis in my left hip and now suffering from tendinitis in my right elbow, I absolutely understand the amount of pain involved. I have found that wearing good quality runners with good support made a tremendous difference. I have a pair that I use as my 'house shoes'--they have never seen the outdoors and I don't have to worry about dragging dirt around the house. It is surprising what a difference they make--to my posture, my leg fatigue, my lower back pain--even while sitting.

I bought a comfortable chair at Ikea so I never have this problem.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...se-t83147.html
There is this thread here on the QB. Someone at the last quilt retreat had one but I didn't ask how they liked it. I figured they did or they wouldn't be using it. There are other brands that run less money. It might be worth a try.

My PT friend had me put my sewing machine low and my chair high. Never hunch shoulders or jut out your neck to sew. You should be able to just tilt your head down. Back straight. I can sew for hours with no problems once I made this posture a habit. I remember sitting this way in school when posture was important and taught. The shorter kids had cushions to be at proper table height. I don't think kids are being taught proper posture in school now.
Oh if you are in a workshop try stacking two chairs to be at a better height.

So, after reading all this...is there any place to check at how high a cutting table should be or the sewing machine and the chair? Different heights for people should make different heights for these items, right? Lately, there have been news segments on not bending our necks so much for cell phone/computer/iPad, etc. use...so would like to have a better height to the sewing machine. Or????

Yes, if I spend to much time sewing without taking a break.

Agree with all said here.....the nuns were strick about posture, but now as I am older, I appreciate it.....also, dad showed me how to walk straight, balancing a book atop of my head.......I'm positive the children today are not taught correct posture...just look at how they "slump" when they walk......and manners, proper English.....all things of the past..........

I get up often & stretch & walk a little or do a little something else for a while. I have a bad back & hips so I have to do this or I wouldn't be able to sew. You sure need breaks even short ones seem to help. I know it is hard to take a break when you are on a roll but it is necessary & you just have to make yourself do it.

I purchased an adjustable footrest and it has made a world of difference. Have had lower back surgery and this keeps my hips and legs in proper alignment.

I have bursitis in both hips plus a blown disc in the lower back so sitting or standing is a problem for me. I tend to sew for a short period, then get up and press, cut or whatever for a short period. Then go back to the sewing machine, etc. When I'm at the quilting machine, I do the same with alternating sitting and standing. Relieves some of the pressure but not all. I also have issues with both feet so standing for too long a period makes them hurt too. Its just not fair.........now that we're retired and have the time to spend doing what we love to do, our bodies fight us. As I tell my friends, my spirit is willing but my body can't keep up with the pace.

I'm either in front of a computer, sewing machine or the car. I do take breaks and often because of what computers can often affect the eyes. Cell phones just as bad. I fell a few decades ago leaving my apartment with my son. The steps were icy and I went down 6 icy steps on my tailbone. My bottom was definitely very sore. Had a doctor's appointment that next Monday for a yearly. My bottom was still sore. When my doctor saw my bottom he nearly passed out and his nurse did pass out. Sent me over for exrays and I had fracture my tailbone and hairline cracked my pelvis. Surgery could've left me paralyzed so of course I opted not on the surgery. Sat on a lot of pillows and every once in awhile I get a twinge if I try to get up sideways. My son was 5 so that was in "77". Scoliosis on top of that doesn't help. Amazing though I gave birth in "79" to an 8 lb. baby boy and not by C-section. I get up off my keester as much as I can and sometimes just more comfortable on it. The more I sit the wider my seat gets and that needs to stop.

I have some kind of issue with staying in one position too long. I begin to stiffen, and it has (once!) gotten to the point I was stuck in a chair until DH came home. I set up my sewing room in areas. (Kind of like my kindergarten classroom was divided into activity areas.) sewing is in front of a window, on an old teachers desk, with a low office chair, ironing in the corner, cutting in the center of the room, cat perch in another corner so they can watch like the vultures they are lol, and two large dogs sprawled in what ever walkway I need to use next.... I move constantly to avoid the stiffening. Sew, iron, sew, iron, sew iron, better than aerobics.

Maybe you need an additional cushion on your chair. I can't think of any other reason that you might get sore. Good luck figuring it out.

Mine sometimes falls asleep and I always hope that it doesn't start snoring.

On the serious side: I recently started having severe pain in my right hip after sewing. Realized two things. I didn't sit centered in front of the needle and my chair had a tilt to the right. When I changed chair and position, all the pain stopped.

Have you thought about getting one of those blue bubble pillows with knobs? A friend of mine uses it and she loves it.

Me too, mamagrande!

A lot of men and their doctors have traced their back problems to sitting on their wallet in their back pocket, so yes, sitting cocked slightly sideways in your sewing chair can cause problems. If you can teach yourself to use both feet on the controller and alternate frequently, it will probably help. I've found the most helpful people for these kinds of pain are physical therapists. They will put hands on to identify the painful muscles or nerves involved and advise you of a program to relieve the pain and prevent it. Then it's just up to us to actually put the new information into practice. And keep doing it. Easier said than done. Sort of like dieting...

I deal with osteoarthritis in knees/hips--have had both knees replaced and after last replacement not quit a year ago, I managed to total a car 4 months later and fractured my sternum and spent a month in the recliner and now have blood clots in that leg. I've also had surgery on a shoulder have arthritis in both shoulders. What I've learned is you HAVE TO GET UP regularly as otherwise you run into "body" problems. I have my iron set up across the room, the cutting table is high enough I don't lean over and it requires me to get up, too. I've also set my machine so that when I'm sitting in my chair with feet flat on the floor, the table/machine is set so my arms form 90degree angle at the elbow. I also set up a BigLook magnifying set-up on the machine---not only does it allow me to see what I'm sewing without lean over, but it actually forces me to sit up straight otherwise it distorts what I see. And sometimes I put a heated cornpad on my shoulders! A friend who has lots of arthritis has 2 machines--one for sitting down and one she stands at--said when she worked in a sewing factory the standing machines were used to prevent aches/pains. Haven't tried that but can see how it would work! One thing I take to retreats is the heated, massaging electric chair pad for the chair I take (chairs always too low for the tables) and everyone laughs and then wants to try it out.

My quilting DIL bought me one for Christmas last year. She also got one. She likes hers, I have a problem sitting on mine. I tended to lose my balance on it so hubby took some air out, actually quite a bit of air, and I can sit on it but not my favorite gift. There are other women who like them at our retreats, guess it's a you do or you don't issue. I don't.

I bought a "sit upon" and do not like it. It felt like it was rocking me around and I have a feeling of dizziness if I don't keep my equilibrium steady.

My cutting station and Ironing board are on the other side of our family room, so I have to get up an walk quite frequently. I also find that if I do laundry while I'm sewing, I have to get up and fold laundry and start the next load. This works for getting me and moving every 30 minutes or so. Free Motion Quilting is the worst for my neck and shoulders, so I get up every few minutes and do big arm circles and stretches- especially when working with a large quilt.

I was given advice about eyesight a few years ago. I was told to -- every 20 minutes, stare for 20 seconds at something that is 20 feet away. I am wondering if we can adapt this to the sewing chair. Every 20 minutes, get up and move about the room and do something else for just a bit. Even if we just put something away, or go to the kitchen and get a glass of iced tea.

there are these wonderful "cushions" made out of the same stuff as the balance balls, that have little fingers that project up, which really help. I have my ADHD and Asperger's clients get them for when they have to study or sit a long time. They make you automatically shift weight so that you don't stay on any one set of muscles for any length of time.