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back pain

updated mon 8 aug 11

 

wike on thu 4 dec 97

If I throw on my electric wheel on a stool for more than an
hour, I get bad lower back pain. Are there any exercises to do
between pots?

Patty
Wike@twave.net

Joseph Bennion on fri 5 dec 97

Patty,
Here are some suggestions for your back.
Throw standing up.
When standing keep your hands behind your back to keep your back arched.
When reading lie on your belly. Prop yourself up with your arms.
In the shower wash your hair with your back to the water fixture.
Do tummy curls, not situps.
Lying on your back press your lower back flat against the floor and
hold it till you get a burn.
Get the book "Treating Your Own Back" by Mackenzie.
Get into Yoga.
See a orthopedic who knows what is going on.
These are mostly tips given me by Dave Shaner

Good luck, lots of us run into these problems...Joe the Potter


===

Joseph Bennion "stay together
PO Box 186 learn the flowers
Spring City, Utah 84662 go light"
801-462-2708
joe.the.potter@rocketmail.com Gary Snyder




---wike wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original
message----------------------------
> If I throw on my electric wheel on a stool for more than an
> hour, I get bad lower back pain. Are there any exercises to do
> between pots?
>
> Patty
> Wike@twave.net
>

_________________________________________________________
DO YOU YAHOO!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com

Kenneth D. Westfall on fri 5 dec 97

Patty
Take it from experience, save your self some money and stop throwing
from a stool. Raise your wheel up and throw standing, you will never
regret it. I ignored the pain warnings and ruptured a disk. I am very
lucky to still be make pots but it has taken a toll on what I can do and
make. I am limited to lifting no more that 50lb from waist high and 25lb
from the floor and no using a shovel. I change my studio so that I lean
against a wall while throwing. I can step out from behind my wheel to move
pot or get more clay to throw. I don't wedge up more than six pieces of
clay so I have to move which is like taking a lot of small break all day.
Those break relieved a lot of pressure from or spine and pain. I use a
thick fatigue mat on the where I stand because my studio has concrete
floors, this helps with sore feet. We also moved as much of the thing
need to work in the pottery up to waist high. With all these changes I
have found that I am more productive and far less fatigued at the end of
the day.

Kenneth D. Westfall
Pine Hill Pottery
RD#2 Box 6AA
Harrisville, WV 26362
pinehill@ruralnet.org

DON'T GET STUCK IN THE MUDPIES--K & T

Arturo M DeVitalis on fri 5 dec 97

Send me your snail-mail adress and I will mail you a copy of Claudia
Zeber's "Physical Fitness for the Crafts Person"...Claudia, a Mom and a
potter and a personal trainer can be reached at 1-216-253-3808 in Akron
Ohio

B A HARPER on fri 5 dec 97

I visited the jugtown area of North Carolina this past summer, and
noticed that's lots of potters had their wheels elevated, and throw
standing up. They had a wooden brace on a table next to the wheel to
brace their arm against. I think it might take a while to get used
to but if the back pain is gone- it's worth it. Try also getting a
lower stool or raising your wheel up just on cynder blocks. Hope
this helps.

Robin in Flagstaff, where we just unloaded the anagama, the last
firing of the year.

The Wrights on fri 5 dec 97

Patty:

Don't do to yourself what I did when I first started working on the
wheel. I spent hours perched on the seat of a Randall kickwheel, with
no breaks. I am quite sure that I unknowingly did nearly irreversible
damage to my lower back. Between using my right leg to get the wheel
going and stopping it and using my left to operate the foot pedal, my
chiropractor said I have the same problem truck drivers have from
sitting for hours driving manual.

He gave me the following exercises. Pull your left foot up against your
right inner thigh, with the knee down as far as it can go toward the
floor. Lean forward and with both hands, grasp the lower part of your
shin or even better, your ankle on your right leg. Gently pull yourself
down as you exhale, relaxing your back muscles as you go. Your goal is
to reach your right knee with your forehead. Do about 10 on that side.
Do your left side now, this time your right foot goes against your left
inner thigh. The key to this as with any stretching exercise is that you
DO NOT bounce or try to stretch too quickly, SLOW and GENTLE. Do about
10 for each side. I hold each for a slow count of 5.

If you really have bad back problems, see a chiropractor. Mine has been
so helpful. Be sure you find someone who works with pressure points and
is open to new technologies, and not just someone who cracks your back.
I have had "back crackers" and they are good to some extent, but my
current Chiro is trying to undo what my other one did. My chiro has me
using an electronic unit that stops the pain in my sensitive areas. It
does work and it has increased my flexibility (I can do the above
exercise, almost reaching my forehead to my knee.) Also it kills the
pain which is the most important thing.

Sorry for my rambling, but I know how aweful it is to have an aching
back :-( Hope I helped. Take Care, Flo

Leslie Ihde on fri 5 dec 97

Patty-
I strongly recommend throwing standing up. It sounds ackward, but it
feels great. No more back problems. You can mount your wheel in a way
comfortable for you.
Leslie

On Thu, 4 Dec 1997, wike wrote:

> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> If I throw on my electric wheel on a stool for more than an
> hour, I get bad lower back pain. Are there any exercises to do
> between pots?
>
> Patty
> Wike@twave.net
>

Joe Davis on sat 6 dec 97

Patty,

There are many exercises and/or stretches you could do. I find yoga to
be the most helpful. However, having had surgery to "repair" a ruptured
disc some years ago, I find that the only alternative for me is to
elevate the wheel and throw while standing. It was like learning to
throw all over again but I had no choice. Strong back or not, throwing
while standing is less stressful on the lower back.

Good Luck,

Joe Davis
Lexington, KY

Frank Tucker on sun 7 dec 97


Mick Casson once told me that he uses a mirror in front of his wheel.This
stops you from having to lean back and twisting over to the side to view a
pot while it is still on the wheel.I have suggested this to many potters
over the years and it seems to help.

Frank Tucker
Tucker's Pottery Supplies
Cone Art Kilns
>
>On Thu, 4 Dec 1997, wike wrote:
>
>> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>> If I throw on my electric wheel on a stool for more than an
>> hour, I get bad lower back pain. Are there any exercises to do
>> between pots?
>>
>> Patty
>> Wike@twave.net
>>
>

J Rose Fine Pottery on wed 10 dec 97

The Wrights wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Patty:
>
> Don't do to yourself what I did when I first started working on the
> wheel. I spent hours perched on the seat of a Randall kickwheel, with
> no breaks. I am quite sure that I unknowingly did nearly irreversible
> damage to my lower back. Between using my right leg to get the wheel
> going and stopping it and using my left to operate the foot pedal, my
> chiropractor said I have the same problem truck drivers have from
> sitting for hours driving manual.
>
> He gave me the following exercises. Pull your left foot up against your
> right inner thigh, with the knee down as far as it can go toward the
> floor. Lean forward and with both hands, grasp the lower part of your
> shin or even better, your ankle on your right leg. Gently pull yourself
> down as you exhale, relaxing your back muscles as you go. Your goal is
> to reach your right knee with your forehead. Do about 10 on that side.
> Do your left side now, this time your right foot goes against your left
> inner thigh. The key to this as with any stretching exercise is that you
> DO NOT bounce or try to stretch too quickly, SLOW and GENTLE. Do about
> 10 for each side. I hold each for a slow count of 5.
>
> If you really have bad back problems, see a chiropractor. Mine has been
> so helpful. Be sure you find someone who works with pressure points and
> is open to new technologies, and not just someone who cracks your back.
> I have had "back crackers" and they are good to some extent, but my
> current Chiro is trying to undo what my other one did. My chiro has me
> using an electronic unit that stops the pain in my sensitive areas. It
> does work and it has increased my flexibility (I can do the above
> exercise, almost reaching my forehead to my knee.) Also it kills the
> pain which is the most important thing.
>
> Sorry for my rambling, but I know how aweful it is to have an aching
> back :-( Hope I helped. Take Care, Flo
Hi everyone! Has anyone ever seen the chairs dentists use when they are
leaning over patients? You know the kind with a padded arm that swings
in front and he leans his (or her) stomach on to get at your teeth?
Wonder if a similar rig could be made for throwing?
June Rosenberry

ClayCoyote on sat 13 dec 97

Patty
Besides Joe's tips of a few days back, another thing that seemed to help me is
to slightly tip your throwing stool (assuming you don't stand), slightly
forward. I did this by putting the back legs on an adjustable stool one notch
higher than the front.

Also, find a list of stretches for industry. Seems doing 10-15 minutes of
programmed stretches each morning helps balance the muscles. I think there
was an article on this in Studio Potter some years back.

Watch every move you make. Get both feet at the same level by putting your
left foot on a block (assuming you use your right to control a foot throttle).
Do you twist when putting pots to the side. Take weight off your back when
throwing by setting your stool so your elbows can rest on your thighs.

Very small things make big differences.

Tom Wirt
Clay Coyote Pottery
Hutchinson MN
Claypot@hutchtel.net

chris clarke on mon 5 nov 01


How I hate to be one of these people BUT, exercise.

I have arthritis and my back use to kill me after sitting at the wheel all
day. I started kickboxing and jogging three months ago. I've not had a
single twinge in my joints since. And I can work all day and not pay for it
later.

The big plus however is the ten extra pounds I've added to my wheel head
(and taken off myself). Even if you just stretch out every day, it helps, a
little goes a long way.

And hear the raspberries back there from you guys!! They can go along with
the ones from my family.

chris


temecula, california
chris@ccpots.com
www.ccpots.com

Marianne Lombardo on mon 5 nov 01


Hi Chris;

You are right that exercise is the best way to get rid of a lot of aches and
pains. I too have arthritis in my spine. For months I was working out at
the local "Y" but I really hated it. I did lose weight, but hated to go, so
eventually stopped. It made me exhausted, and caused headaches, to the
point where I had to take a two hour nap to recover. Seriously.

Now I have a 5 month Golden Retriever pup and I have to walk him twice a day
so that helps somewhat.

Marianne
Peterborough, Ontario


> How I hate to be one of these people BUT, exercise.
> I have arthritis and my back use to kill me after sitting at the wheel all
> day. I started kickboxing and jogging three months ago. I've not had a
> single twinge in my joints since. And I can work all day and not pay for
it
> later.
>

Roly Beevor on tue 6 nov 01


Marianne wrote:
You are right that exercise is the best way to get rid of a lot of aches
and pains. I too have arthritis in my spine. For months I was working
out at the local "Y" but I really hated it. I did lose weight, but
hated to go, so eventually stopped. It made me exhausted, and caused
headaches,...


I say exercise and water. The headaches are caused by dehydration. I
was told to drink 3 litres (more than 5 pints) a day. You drink less
tea, coffee and booze, which all dry you out more, and also feel less
stiff. I'm not an expert but it works for me.
Roly

Ivor and Olive Lewis on sat 19 aug 06


Dear Jennifer Boyer,=20

I use the following book to inform me of the nature of the mechanics of =
the human system, Susan J. Hall, "Basic Biomechanics", ISBN =
0-07-092118-0, 1999 .The author describes the working parts and their =
relationships with the upper and lower extremities. She also gives a run =
down of the more common injuries.

Sarno may be correct about the spinal muscles that lay beneath the =
spine. But I would add that the other core musculature should be treated =
as suspect if pain persists. The abdominal muscles, the internal and =
external oblique abdominal muscles all contribute maintaining a relaxed =
upright stance. Excess stomach mass supported by these causes rotational =
forces to act on the spine, its joints making demands the spinal =
muscles, keeping them in constant tension. It would be interesting to do =
a study to find the relationship between incidence of back pain and =
obesity.

Best regards,

Ivor

Nils Lou on sun 7 aug 11


My own anecdotal experience with debilitating back problems was solved when=
=3D
I discovered
the laser spine institute in Tampa. They do the back surgery dealing with d=
=3D
isc compression, stenosis and other problems in such a minimally invasive w=
=3D
ay, no general anesthetic,
that after surgery I walked to dinner!
They take about fifteen patients a day. They come in in wheelchairs, crutch=
=3D
es and walkers. They
leave walking out with smiles on their faces. Many have already had one or =
=3D
more conventional
back surgeries that didn't work.
Pro golfers like Peter Jacobson go there to get fixed. You can check it out=
=3D
at:
www.laserspineinstitute.com