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A Study Is Aimed At Establishing How Knitting Really Helps Those With Arthritis
Osteoarthritis is a painful condition that affects especially older people. For years, it has been said that keeping your hands mobile helps alleviating the symptoms of arthritis, pain and stiffness in particular.
Knitting is often praised for being able to keep the knitter’s fingers nimble. It could therefore be a good natural option for patients with arthritis. Now, it is time for a study to examine closely the impact knitting has and if knitting really helps these patients.
A group of seniors from Billings Bridge is willing to take part in this study. They have been knitting blankets for more than 23 years for the Children’s Hospital located in Eastern Ontario.
Lucie Brosseau is the head of research. She is a professor and researcher at the University of Ottawa’s School of Rehabilitation Sciences.
Brosseau has asked all the seniors from the knitting group to keep a log. In the log they keep details of their knitting sessions, They also detail the level of pain and stiffness they experience.
(My arthritis) pain is worse in the morning,” said 82-year-old participant Elena Dinu, who has suffered with arthritis for more than 10 years. She says that knitting has definitely helped with her pain.
“If you do things, (your hands) get a little more mobile,” she said.
The pilot study will be carried over a duration of six weeks. The researcher says that the first conclusive data is expected to appear after the first three weeks.
Included in the study are people who have been knitting for decades, as well as some who have not knitted in years.
However, they do know one thing, without any research to back them up, at least so far. It is that the pain they usually endure from arthritis lessens after they knit for several hours.
The best part for the seniors included in the research is not helping science, though. All the items they knit go to the little ones at the Children’s Hospital. This is what helps making them feel better.
“I’m willing to try (knitting),” she said despite being a little self-conscious that learning to knit again might be difficult at her age.
Nerves aside, these women are not just knitting for the sake of science; they, along with a bigger group of non-arthritis sufferers, donate all their knitted blankets to the sick kids at CHEO.
“It makes you feel so good when you’re thinking of the little ones,” said Dinu.
Lucie Brosseau was inspired to carry out her study by a friend of her mother who used knitting to get rid of arthritic pains. She hopes the study will be a success and that she will be able to recreate it at a larger scale.
Good morning – will any consideration be given to the type of needles being used …. ie metal vs bamboo/wood? I have been knitting since I was a small child and at one point gave it up (for almost 10 years) because of the pain in my hands. It was not until I was introduced to bamboo needles that I began to knit again. I still have the pain, but it is much more bearable since the bamboo seems to warm with use and is more flexible than the metal. Just my opinion.
I was diagnosed with osteo-arthritis in my hands 20 years ago, but my doctor told me to keep on knitting. My fingers are a little bit twisted and sore from time to time, but I think my hands would have been much worse if I did not knit regularly. I agree that metal needles are terrible, but bamboo or different kinds of flexible plastic needles are fine. I am 68 now and I hope to knit for a long time still.
Annette Norman – We’re glad to hear your story. For some, they would say it’s personal or individual preferences. Thank you, though, for sharing your story…
My Grandma knitted for at least 4 hours a day, she said it kept her arthritis away. Her hands were lovely.
I have arthritis in my hands I do a lot of charity knitting. I love knitting Arran pattern can only manage knitting children’s patterns or babies. My hands very stiff in the mornings. Its best to keep hands working.
I have both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid Arthritis. Knitting keeps my fingers mobile and is a god send on days when pain or fatigue from RA prevent me from doing much other than knitting. The one point I thing is important: sitting for long periods is very detrimental to general health and mobility. I make myself get up and walk around every 30 minutes. Also I do head, neck, shoulder, arm and finger stretches while up to prevent effects of repetitive movement. 😊
I have osteoarthritis and I knit which does help. As to the type of needle, I use laminated wood or bamboo. Some Shetland knitters I am in touch with say that for larger items, they find circular needles difficult because of the weight. They either change the pattern to flat needles or the use very long dpns and a knitting belt (you can purchase them on-line). It holds the weight of the knitting and you can still knit in the round.
I have been knitting for about 17 years. I was just diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my hands. I have it everywhere actually (I have had 1 knee replacement in August and having another in April due to the arthritis) If I didnt knit everyday I really think I would be in more pain
Knitting is good for your arthritis and good for your soul.💞
Wood or bamboo needles are way easier on my hands than metal ones.
I have knit since I was six years old. I have had osteoarthritis in my hands since my mid forties. Knitting has definitely kept my fingers and hands moving and have much less pain when I knit. Will be knitting 🧶 for many more years I hope.
I have osteoarthritis in my shoulder and find knitting helps with my pain I couldn’t say if the type of needles makes a difference to me I prefer the plastic needles
Just remember to stretch out your hands once in a while. I find this helps to keep me at it for longer sessions. I am a knitter that takes it almost everywhere with me. Better than reading an old mag when waiting for appointments.
Very interesting to read the above comments. The past few days I have had to limit my knitting due to one of my fingers on my right hand seizing up. I do have osteoarthritis in most joints. I am going to purchase some plastic needles to see if that helps. It seems a lot of people recommend them. Thank you.