Golden Oldie #3: Artists and Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

Do you get pains in your hand or wrist when using art media? Do you ignore them - or do you recognise the need to make sure you don't ruin your grip?

Speaking as somebody with a connective tissue disorder and severe osteoarthritis, I find myself learning new things, again and again, about how to keep going despite the fact that joint cartilage keeps disappearing and joints need attention - including significant surgery. (One ankle fusion done, shoulder replacement and hip replacement on the agenda next!)

I'm very mindful of looking after your limbs and the bits of your body that move when you make art. Particularly those bits which are relevant to holding art materials in your hand with a decent grip and being able to use your arm. 

That means for me, that I've actually had to stop gripping art media in my hand for any length of time.....

My second wrist splint for my hand I used to grip art media with
- emphasis on the "used to"

Artists and Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

My post about Artists and Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) was published in June 2016. 

It started thus....

Too many artists suffer from repetitive strain injuries (RSI). In addition, too many artists know too little about:

• how to avoid RSI
• how best to deal with RSI

Too often, health and safety issues for artists relate purely to hazards associated with art materials. In my opinion, there is far too little focus on the hazards that certain working practices can have on your anatomy.

The post covers:

• What is RSI?
• Other common RSI or RSI related conditions
• How do artists get repetitive strain injury?
• How do artists make RSI worse?
• How do artists alleviate RSI symptoms - and make art? - which includes LOTS of suggestions of ways in which you can avoid a problem and alleviate the one you have.