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.