Over the past two or three years I have been amazed (and dismayed) by hearing how many people have ended up with serious back, arm or wrist problems as a result of long hours at the computer. Digital artists are certainly not immune.
A few months ago I too started to get lower back ache after sitting too long at my desktop. The backache is improving since I took to stuffing a cushion (folded in two) down the back of my office chair to support my lower back.
I don’t have wrist or arm trouble, but then I never use a mouse. I draw, paint and mouse about with a stylus on my Wacom drawing tablet. I keep the Wacom tablet on my lap.
I have just got an iPad, which I find even more relaxing to use, as you can hold it in one hand or prop it on your knees to paint on it with your fingers. I still paint on my iphone too, which is even easier to hold. I do have to admit the ipad gets a bit heavy to hold up in one hand for too long.
All the same, both ipad and iphone free you up to move, stand and sit as you please to draw and paint. (You can also draw and paint on an iPod Touch.)
All at once, the world is your studio – though you don’t even have to leave your own house to become more mobile! About the only place you can’t paint, blog or answer your email on an iphone is in the bath!
It’s a good idea to get a timer to remind you it’s time to get up and move around if you’re sitting for long at your desktop. With all the famous apps for phones and computers, it’s ironic that there doesn’t seem to be one alarm app that will do this – at least I haven’t found one. Probably a cheap kitchen timer will do the job.
I recently began a course of weekly Pilates classes, which also help and get me moving.
How about you? If anything particularly works for you, please do add a comment. I’m sure there are many, many who would love to know!
Tags: back strain, digital artist, fitness, repetitive stress, tips, valerie beeby, workout
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Yep, I sure do sit at my computer too long. After 10 years of working in the animation and games industry, I branched out on my own as a freelance illustrator/animator about 2.5 years ago. I was quite annoyed to then find the dull pain I had in my shoulders n wrist I had experienced for years had finally come to a stage where I had to do something about it (without the luxuries of paid sick days to rest). I’m currently trying everything to avoid surgery and have found a combination of sitting on an exercise ball, solely using my wacom, doing Tai Chi, wearing a copper/magnetic bracelet and giving up booze (for general better health) has stopped the pain from getting worse. I won’t say its cured me, but its bearable and I’m hoping once I hit the gym soon to strengthen my back, I’ll be able to turn back the damage I’d done to myself these past years. I was impressed with what a change I got from ditching the mouse, and it didnt take long at all to get used to moving about the pc with a wacom. Best of luck to anyone suffering these sorts of problems, and its never too early to take action.
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Do you sit too long at your computer? | Seeing Things…
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