Professional or highly dedicated visual artists and crafters sometimes find that their passions can be hard on the body and mind. Let’s face it: artists and crafters are passionate about their arts and crafts! This is especially true for those who make a living this way or are very dedicated, as they spend a great deal of time honing their skills.

Sculptors, painters, metal or wood workers, knitters, sewers, leather workers, crochet folks, etc. share something in common – upper body pain. It is quite understandable when one spends many hours in the studio working on a project. Being in the “zone” and performing repetitive actions with less then ideal posture over long periods, can add up to considerable strain on the muscles, tendons, fascia and ligaments. Aching joints, sore and stiff muscles, tendonitis, carpal tunnel issues, rotator cuff problems, headaches, neck pain and other structural issues result from the strain.

Arts and crafts can be a very satisfying way to make a living. Ideally, one gets to feed the soul as well as the belly. However, the reality for most is that it can be rather hard to way to earn a living. As a result, stress can be a constant companion. Research has shown that chronic or severe stress has a way of negatively impacting health, so it is wise to address it before it makes us sick.

Acupuncture, herbs, supplements, nutrition and relaxation techniques are effective tools to address the problems artists and crafters face. These modalities treat both the mind and body. Indeed for issues driven by inflammation or stress, these are arguably some of the best approaches, given their results without harsh side effects. Each problem requires a different combination of modalities and course of treatment. This is dependent upon variables such as severity, length of illness, age, work environment, etc. Good news is that most issues resolve fairly quickly and changes are seen very soon after treatment begins!

Don’t let pain or stress keep you from doing your work and passions. If you are dealing with these problems, contact me and we will come up with a plan to treat them.