Muscle health and the hobbyist

[nazgob]

I stumbled across this, and thought that everyone would benefit from the sharing of it.

A guide, by a massage therapist for miniature painters.

Enjoy.

http://blog.brushthralls.com/?page_id=1720

[Norse]

interesting stuff, though I can hardly see me doing a pilates class before I pick up a brush..

that said, I have recently started wearing compression gloves when I paint.. it's a little embarrassing to be wearing gloves designed for little old arthritic ladies who like to do needlework , but my fingers get so painful when I paint that I can only paint for an hour or two at most a day. I'm guessing an X-Box, a PSP and a Blackberry are not doing much to help either..

I'll be honest and say if I live to 50 (my father didn't so I don't take that for granted) I doubt I will be able to paint anymore by then. I can only hope my kids are into the hobby so I can live vicariously through them..

[Stout Youngblood]

Great article.

[nazgob]

I dread to think what my fingers will like like by the time I'm fifty - Gameboy, Playstation, Xbox, typing, texting, painting, cards and the complete inability to sit still will surely contribute to some serious pain. I also already get back ache, so I figure any thing that I can use as a preventative will be a good thing.

What are these gloves you speak of, Norse?

[Norse]

they're called arthritis gloves.. most have coverage for the finger until the final knuckle joint, but mine stop at the base of the fingers, which means they don't affect fine detail negatively, but still keep my hands warmer and prevent pain.

my Mum has arthritis and does a lot of tapestries - she saw how much pain I was in (my painting style doesn't help - I wedge the pinkie finger of each hand under the desk, and the other three above it, in order to maintain stability) and bought me a pair...

they're not exactly haute couture you understand, but if they allow me to do the one thing I enjoy most more often, what the hell..

PS they also allow me to paint minis..

[Lunchab1es]

A guide, by a muscle doctor (don't ask me the technical terms) for miniature painters.

It's actually written by a massage therapist, not a doctor. The article is still a wonderful resource that all painters should read, but I just thought that tidbit deserved a mention.

[Urb]

I can only hope my kids are into the hobby so I can live vicariously through them..

Isn't this the whole point to having kids? So you can make them do your work?

[Stout Youngblood]

After reading the article again, I realized that I follow most of the suggestions she puts forth....take a break every hour; stretch before, during and after a painting session; maintain a proper posture; etc.

Smart lady!

[daloonieshaman]

it will never happen but shedding some of that center of gravity wouldn't hurt either

[Stout Youngblood]

True, so very true.