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Oi!

Recently I've been doing a lot of paining because I want to get my army somewhat complete, I am sick and tired of fielding grey or just primed models so I buckled down and painted quite a few minatures (assembly style).

When I woke up yesterday I felt a very unusual pain, something I've never felt before, it would be considered middle upper back ? right below my shoulder blades around the middle.

I was just wondering what sort of methods do you guys apply to avoid this as I have never expierienced this before and it was almoast tough to fall asleep last night

Advice or a link to an article describing good posture per say ? maybe a new work bench ? I guess it resulted from me hunching for a long time and not taking a break, but man does it ache!

Oi!

Speak to a GP.

Failing that do some exercises to loosen your neck, shoulders and back up.

Common if you sit still too long, I've always had very itchy feet though so I get up and stretch often. Even when I watch gak I like such as Game of Thrones or Sherlock, I tend to put it on, and sort of.. wander around the room while I watch it. fething weird I know...

For painting, I've got a chin up bar on my bedroom door, I do five every time I walk out of it, if that's too much and my back is stiff, just hang off it. It feels really good for my back and shoulders.

Stop often, walk down the stairs, get back to it. It comes easy to me, but I know many people just happily crack on for an hour or two without moving.

A trick I use for when I have something to do, is put roughly that amount of songs on media player. Say I am painting but have to go to the pub in 40 minutes? I put 40 minutes of music on and then feth off when it stops. It stops you clock watching so you can concentrate.. why not, put your music on in 20 minute bursts, and then feth off down stairs for a glass of water, or go do some push ups or something.

Basically sitting in one position too long can feth your neck, back and shoulders.. so just try and keep a bit more active.

 mattyrm wrote:
Common if you sit still too long, I've always had very itchy feet though so I get up and stretch often. Even when I watch gak I like such as Game of Thrones or Sherlock, I tend to put it on, and sort of.. wander around the room while I watch it. fething weird I know...

For painting, I've got a chin up bar on my bedroom door, I do five every time I walk out of it, if that's too much and my back is stiff, just hang off it. It feels really good for my back and shoulders.

Stop often, walk down the stairs, get back to it. It comes easy to me, but I know many people just happily crack on for an hour or two without moving.

A trick I use for when I have something to do, is put roughly that amount of songs on media player. Say I am painting but have to go to the pub in 40 minutes? I put 40 minutes of music on and then feth off when it stops. It stops you clock watching so you can concentrate.. why not, put your music on in 20 minute bursts, and then feth off down stairs for a glass of water, or go do some push ups or something.

Basically sitting in one position too long can feth your neck, back and shoulders.. so just try and keep a bit more active.

This is all excellent advice. I would look into your seating and lighting too. You don't want to 'hunch over' your workstation.

Lighting does help a lot. I got a second desk light for Xmas and ever since I've had both right and left side illumination I have been able to paint for longer in one session. You don't realize how much you cock your head one way for a long time to see something until you can see it without cocking your head...

When I paint I just make sure I get up every so often. Or something as simple as sitting up and allowing your arms to hanf by your sides for a few seconds everytime you wash your brush can really prolong how long it takes for your back to begin to ache. By your explanation I seem to get it in the same place as you say and that method has helped me so far. Another good one is a scapula stretch. I use it a lot due to bodybuilding but it also helps me when painting. The way to do it is find something upright and thin enough that you can grasp with your hands and 'interlock' your fingers. Then just walk a step back and put your head down so its in line with your arms and you should feel it right where your explain your pain.

I, too, have a chin up bar in my office, so I try to do a few every time I walk through it, or hang from it if my back is sore.

And, I second the lighting. I have three clip-on can lights I picked up from Home Depot for like $15, total, so I have a pretty well-lit space.

Beer helps... Or at least I pretend it does.

And this (plus stretching, as needed):

Taller table ..ie watch makers so your not hunched your upright and the model is in front of you

Thanks for the responses guys! It's been a bit since it stopped hurting. I actualy ended up getting a massage form somebody my Mom goes to, she only charges 40$ and she was pretty good, I can still feel some twitching every now and then but I think habbits and overall me being out of shape might have triggered this, I am on top of my stuff now !

breaks breaks breaks !!! is the name of the game!

I feel your pain! I get the same pain you describe from sitting and painting on the couch using the coffee table. I then tried the kitchen table and it helped. I have since bought a studio painting table and a chair with a back on it and it has alieviated those issues. But being aware of overall ergonomics would be helpful. As you start to hurt, your productivity/quality will decrease. I think a lot of people start out painting on the couch though lol The other advice above is really good also.

It's not a prevalent in the painting world -- most of us are doing it just as hobbies, and not as a money maker -- but I've noticed, in doing film and video game sound, that there's a point in my exhaustion that I stop making good decisions. Recognizing that has been a huge help for my life, overall.