Yes, No and Maybe

I got to see Dr. Susan Mech on SQ this morning and thought she was wonderful. She had some fine ideas on how to be a quilter without doing yourself bodily harm. Some of her suggestions were probably out of the question such as the height she recommends for the bed of the SM is mighty low. Mine is already on a drafting table set as low as it will go at 25". To get it any lower, I've asked DH about digging a hole in the sewing room floor. The good news is the exercies she showed us that we can all do and should once an hour. Here ya go: Yes. Lean your head straight back looking up at the ceiling and then down until your chin reaches whatever it reaches. Slowly. Gently. We are not warming up for the Super Bowl. Three times, that's all. No. Turn your head to left and right as far as it will easily go. Maybe. Just an easy-going shrug. Yes, no and maybe three times. And, if exercise to you means losing weight, she says if you will sit up straight you'll look 5 pounds lighter. Thank you for your kind attention. I'm off to look for the shovel. Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther
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Lower the SM? Really? I don't understand that... why lower & not higher? Maybe I'm really doing my back in with out knowing it....

"Polly Esther" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@corp.supernews.com:

Reply to
mini Mini

The sewing machine should be at a level where your arms are at a 90 degree bend. Usually our machines aren't low enough (or chairs high enough) to get that angle. I'm guilty, and I have my chair as high as it goes. KJ

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KJ

Reply to
Joanna

I can see why from an ergonomic point of view, but I can't see well enough to sew if I manage to get set up like that. I expect as I get older and need reading glasses, I'll manage better, but these days, even with my contacts in, I need my eyes about 6-8 inches away to see properly

Anne

Reply to
Anne Rogers

Those are great exercises. A certified arthritis instructor came to our guild last year, and told us the same thing. She had us do those exercises, and they really do help. Thanks for sharing the info again.

Reply to
Sherry Starr

OY -- if I had my machine that low, I wouldn't be able to get my fat legs under the table without kneeling on the ground -- LOLOL! I just fit my legs under the table I have and my machine is a bit high but there's not much I can do about it! When I am sitting and put my arms at a 90 degree angle, I can put my lower arm and hands right smack in my lap. I'm afraid that 25" thing is likely for the smaller, less zaftig quilters in the group :-). CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

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Reply to
Tia Mary

I'm with you. My machine is so low that it nearly rests on my legs and I still can't get my arms at 90 degrees. Bummer. I really cannot think of a solution- higher or lower, chair or table will not change that problem.... Bummer. It would also mess with my knee raiser for the presser foot- but then that doesn't really matter since I can't use it because that's my bad hip. And I was soooo excited about pivoting using that goodie on my new sm. (pout!)

Leslie & The Furbabis > Polly Esther wrote:

Reply to
Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

I don't think I could operate mine that low either. I probably couldn't see what I was doing if it was that low! KJ

Reply to
KJ

Yes, no, and maybe were part of a physical therapy exercise routine I had to do to get my neck back into alignment a couple of years ago. To this day if I have a crick in my neck or shoulders I start doing these exercises to help with the problem, and they always help. Debra in VA See my quilts at

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Reply to
Debra

Howdy!

Yes, No, Maybe So, Shoulder Rolls and Angels.

When Dr. Mech spoke at our guild a few years ago she almost put us to sleep. Once we'd done the basic exercises and were very relaxed, she went on with her program. And on. And on. And... . Thank goodness she didn't have far to drive home that evening (Plano's just north of Dallas, next door to Arlington); relaxing can be hard on the highway.

Shoulder rolls are just that, rolling the shoulders. Angels are a matter of stretching the arms out and bringing the hands together, over the head, then at ear level, shoulder level, waist level, hip level, then a big windmill. Pardon me-- *yawn* -- I have to go lie down... zzzzz...

R/Sandy

Reply to
Sandy Ellison

A Canadian handbook on sewing ergonomics:

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Kay

Reply to
Kay Lancaster

I would love to talk to one of these exercise people. I would love nothing more than to be able to easily stretch out my neck in the yes, no and maybe, but I cant. For those with vertigo, it means that wonderful pukey feeling when moving your head around in those ways :-(

I have tried them slow as a tortoise and even slower and it still really bothers me. Best I can do is some arm stretches and short stints at my machine to reduce the stress on my neck.

I may have to try the angle move more though, that was ok if I don't flop my head around, and shoulder rolls are ok too.

But thanks for the reminder to get up and move and stuff. Sometimes one forgets, even sitting here at the computer I must remember to move..... oh and breathing is good too, don't forget to breathe!

~KK in BC~

Reply to
~KK in BC~

So the rest of us who already sit up straight -this means we actually have to exercise? Thanks for the neck-shoulder moves, very useful. BTW, I recently heard a lecture by a bone specialist. Most of his patients are elderly women whose bones are more imaginary than anything else. Very scary. We all went right out and bought extra calcium supplements. Another form of self-delusion, unless one also restricts caffeine, gives up smoking, and takes up daily exercise. Sigh. Pretty soon, all we ever have left to us is love. Roberta in D

"Polly Esther" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@corp.supernews.com...

Reply to
Roberta Zollner

Wow, Polly. Who would have thought quilting could be so dangerous it requires it's own set of exercises. We must really love it!

-Irene

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IMS

Reply to
Pat in Virginia

Reply to
Pat in Virginia

Here's another thing to add to the Yes, No and Maybe exercises. Sit or stand up straight, keep you head straight and your shoulders level, put your right hand on top of your head so that the tips of your fingers are just above your left ear. Now, keeping your head straight and shoulders level, **gently** pull your head down to your right shoulder as far as you comfortably can, trying to touch your ear to your shoulder. Next, do the same thing with your left hand above your right ear. We all probably know about stretching the neck muscles by bending your head to the side and trying to touch your ear to your shoulder and that's good but doesn't stretch the neck muscles quite as nicely as gently pulling the head to the side does. I'm not sure if this would be OK for those with extreme vertigo but I have mild vertigo and I can manage it quite easily. I pick something straight ahead of me to look at and I just make sure that my eyes stay on that thing wile I am doing these exercises. CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

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Reply to
Tia Mary

I have arthritis in my neck, and these excercises worked great! I did them off and on yesterday while sewing. A couple times my neck cracked and creaked, but then seemed to open up and relax just fine. I didn't experience any pain after this little exercise. A real plus!

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Boca Jan

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Taria

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