Tips to Prevent Pain While Knitting

It is vital that when knitting you have good posture. It is important that when knitting you have good light so that you are not forced to bend down in order to see properly to work on your project. Having a chair that is not too soft and not too hard is a key component to prevent injury while knitting. Your feet should be flat on the floor, your bottom should be placed at the back of the chair and your knees should be faintly below your hips. Keep your shoulders away from your ears and have your shoulder blazed slightly squeezed together.

​Taking breaks while knitting is a great way to prevent injuries from occurring. After about 30-45 minutes of knitting, take a 5-10 minute break and move around. By walking around or doing exercises will help with your circulation and keep you from developing repetitive strain injuries.

One exercise you can do on your break is stretching. Gently move your neck from side to side and slowly turn your head left and right. Make circles with your hands both clockwise and counter clockwise. If you are able to, gently twist your torso left and right. Reach both of your arms up high. If any of these stretches bothers you or causes pain, try to modify it or just don’t perform that stretch.

If you find yourself in pain or discomfort, listen to your body and give it time to recover before knitting again. To help calm any irritation, try icing the sore area. If the pain does not subside within a week, it is best to go and see a health professional, especially if you are experiencing numbness or tingling, loss or strength or radiating pain.