If you've been bitten by the Diamond Painting bug, then you know how quickly the time can pass as you sit and work on your canvas. Before you know it, it's time to move on to another activity so you stand up and feel that twinge in your back as you move. Yes, some people experience back and shoulder pain when Diamond Painting. However, the good news is there are some really simple solutions to help you avoid it! 🙌
1. Take breaks to stretch your muscles
Do you have a tendency to hunch over during long Diamond Painting sessions? You're not alone! 🙋♀️
Diamond Painting is a blast and it's hard to keep track of time when you're excited to see progress in the picture. But if you're staying in one position, bent over your canvas, for too long, it can cause discomfort in your neck and back.
It can be helpful to take stretching breaks. The same stretches that help people who spend long hours working at a computer can do wonders for Diamond Painting back pain too. A few neck, shoulder, and back stretches will do the trick. If you're looking for ideas on how to stretch, you can find lots of videos on YouTube to guide you through stretches.
So you may find relief in your back pain simply from taking the occasional break to stretch. But remember, you may want to set a timer because hours seem to pass in the blink of an eye!!
2. Try a cushion for your chair
Another trick that experienced Diamond Painters use is to get a wedge seat cushion to sit on. These can be used on pretty much any chair and can possibly save you from needing to get a new chair.
These cushions can help alleviate back pain by taking pressure off your tailbone as you sit. They can also help to improve circulation which can also be a problem for some people if they sit for long periods of time. Many also find that the elevated height from the wedge cushion helps them to avoid additional back pain as well.
3. Get a new chair
You may find that you just need a different chair altogether. 🪑 If you're working from an old dining room chair, it may not be the best for you to sit on for long periods of time. And while a cushion can help, you may benefit from trying an ergonomic chair.
These chairs are built with comfort in mind. They are designed to help support proper posture and many people find that they help alleviate back and neck pain as well.
4. Check your posture
Sometimes relieving back pain is as simple as learning to correct your posture. It's easy to have a tendency to slump over as you work on your canvas. However, when your back is bent in one position and your shoulders are slouched forward, it can put unnecessary strain on your muscles leaving them sore.
While stretching can help combat this, it's also wise to pay attention to your posture to see what corrections you can make to it. Some of the keys to proper posture can include:
- Making sure your back is properly supported
- Resting your feet on the floor
- Keeping objects within an easy reach
- Making sure your eyes are looking straight forward
You may be able to make slight corrections to your posture to help avoid sore muscles in your back and neck.
5. Raise and tilt your work surface
One of the most popular fixes for back pain that experienced Diamond Painters love is setting up their craft desk to allow their canvas to be more at eye level. There are a few different options that can help depending on your budget.
The first option is to buy a drafting table or craft table. These tables allow you to keep your canvas on a surface that slants toward you so you don't have to bend or hunch over in order to see it and work on it. You can also find tables that allow you to adjust the height, which makes it even easier to line up in a way that stops you from getting back pain.
If you don't have the budget or space for a large craft table, you may benefit from using a table easel or a laptop stand. These provide the same benefits of allowing you to keep your workspace tilted toward you making it easier to work on.
As you can see, there are plenty of ways that you can eliminate back pain from your Diamond Painting experience. Help out your fellow Diamond Painters by sharing the strategies that have worked the best for you in the comments. 😊
Comments
melodye buckingham said:
trying to find out the difference between a full drill and partial drill.
September 07, 2021
Pam said:
Very new here. Is round or square preferred? Not sure what the difference in outcome is. Appreciate any guidance. Thanks!
July 06, 2021
Cindilin Dellinger said:
What is best to seal your finished diamond paining with? I don’t want to lose the shine!
May 25, 2021
Ruth said:
Looking for diamond painting of any New York Yankees theme or the field.
Thank you
May 17, 2021
Linda May said:
I use mod pog to seal my painting. i don’t like elmer glue is it turns yellow after a few months
May 03, 2021
Cat said:
I seal my finished diamond painting with Elmer’s Washable Clear Glue. I check the picture first to see if I want to replace any diamonds then I pour glue on the diamond painting and brush on with a paint brush (I use one of my soft brushes I use for my acrylic painting) to get into the entire diamond painting and then gently wipe the picture with a damp towel. Picture is shiny and diamonds are sealed. Let dry flat for about 3 hours.
April 19, 2021
Armida Tria said:
Yes, I did get so involved with this craft that I ended up with a backache and had to remedy it by doing as you stated.
However, since Diamond painting sent by one of your companies, Aliexpress, has not remedied the problem of replacing a canvas that is damaged,
I do no plan to purchase any more of your paintings. It is a nice pass-time and they do make good gifts.
Perhaps you should check out the people you are dealing with. the canvas was by Liphisfun mfg. Swan Love- red rose an d two white swans.
Amy Tria
April 14, 2021
edith seelhoff said:
i lost some clue on my painting i heard trying clear nail polish where do i find this polish is there a special brand i need if that doesnt work is it ruined
April 14, 2021
Susan Doty said:
Ever since I got my easel things have been so much more comfortable. I can’t believe I ever diamond painted without it. I would recommend that if you’ve done more than 3 paintings and know you are hooked, invest in an easel.
April 14, 2021
Tara M said:
Wow! Great article! I found it extremely interesting and helpful, as I recently had back surgery.
I will be getting the new chair and the easel for sure because I get up for breaks anyway. I also will be doing the stretches before I sit down.
April 14, 2021
Dianne Partridge said:
Nice but no room in a park model
April 14, 2021