Exercises for Knitters - Ways to Help Your Knitting Induced Pain
Sit in a straight chair and slowly turn your head from side to side, trying to look back
over your shoulder on each side. You must do this very slowly so that there is an
opportunity for proper stretching to occur. Repeat at least 10 times.
Tip your head to one side trying to touch your ear to your shoulder. You can't really
do this. It's just a description of the movement. Hold your head in the position described
for a count of 10 and then try to touch the ear on the other side to your other shoulder.
Hold. Repeat at least 10 times.
One by one, bend each finger and your thumb backward towards the back of your
hand, stretching so that you feel a pull on the inside of your wrist. Repeat with the other
hand.
Sit comfortably in an armless chair with your arms hanging down at your sides.
Bend your arms at the elbows so that your forearms are parallel to the floor. Stretch
your shoulders back as if you were trying to make your shoulders meet behind your back.
Hold and repeat at least 5 times. Be sure that you are sitting straight and that your
shoulders are relaxed when you begin this exercise.
Place the backs of your hands in the small of your back at waist height. Stretch
your shoulders backward, trying to make your elbows touch behind you. You can't really
make them touch. This is just a description of the position. Hold to a count of 5. Repeat
at least 5 times slowly.
Sit straight in a chair with your arms hanging at your sides and your shoulders
relaxed. Slowly move your head back a bit, keeping your chin parallel to the floor in a
horizontal position. Do not strain but seek to do this movement in a smooth way. Repeat
this small movement 5 or 10 times. You will feel a pleasant stretch down your back. This
is one exercise that you can do in public. Most people will not notice that you are doing
anything.
This series of exercises, if done slowly and smoothly, will result in a more relaxed spine,
neck, shoulders, and hands. I'm certainly not a doctor or physical therapist, so do take
this advice as non-medical suggestions from someone for whom these exercises have
proved highly helpful.
And now back to your knitting!
You may want to check out other
Knitting Tips from the Guru now.
