It began a number of years in the past. I used to be simply getting dressed once I instantly felt an intense ache in my left shoulder and couldn’t transfer it anymore. Each time I attempted to maneuver my neck or shoulder, it was like arrows have been piercing in it. I knew one thing was incorrect and referred to as the physician. The following day I used to be referred to the physiotherapist and a brand new chapter in my illustration profession opened. It’s referred to as: methods to care for your bodily well being as an illustrator. And it was an extended one. Spoiler alert: there’s a cheerful finish and the ache is lastly over!
I by no means talked about this earlier than as a result of it feels fairly private and I didn’t wish to scare away potential shoppers. However now I’m healed and it’s throughout, I actually do wish to share this story. I hope it would assist different illustrators. However please word: I’m not a physician or knowledgeable, that is simply my private expertise.
Once I determined to show my illustrations into knowledgeable profession, I didn’t realise it might even be a bodily profession. However as you may anticipate: holding a pencil and being bended over a chunk of paper for hours, is not going to do your physique any favours. My signs have been loads like IRS and carpal tunnel syndrome. My physio has been extraordinarily useful the previous few years in studying methods to deal with and diminish it. I had ups and downs however the whole lot was going okay – till 2019.
That 12 months was a really busy 12 months with a great deal of commissions. And one thing occurred that was worse than neck and shoulder ache: my left hand (I’m a leftie) began to ache. Holding a pencil for greater than 10 minutes was truly hurting. I needed to put on a brace at evening and draw considerably lower than earlier than to ensure my hand may heal. However on the similar time, I cherished drawing a lot that I actually struggled to take sufficient brakes and to stay to a schedule with much less drawing. So all of it went up and down throughout that 12 months. And it nonetheless was going up and down initially of 2020. Till March, when the lockdown got here.
In the beginning of the lockdown, there was numerous stress: nearly no commissions, no work, and my physiotherapist was closed. So I used to be feeling numerous issues on the similar time however one factor was for certain. Life was slowing down. I used to be slowing down. And after a number of weeks I began to note one thing was altering: it was my handpain. the ache was getting much less, my hand was getting higher. My shoulders felt higher as properly. I used to be nonetheless drawing a bit for myself however approach much less then earlier than. 2 months of relaxation meant my hand was lastly truly therapeutic and the carpal tunnel syndrome appeared to be gone.
Across the similar time the lockdown began, I bought myself knowledgeable drafting board, which implies I can now work on a 30 diploma angle whereas standing, as an alternative of start bended over a desk on a regular basis. That additionally made an enormous distinction! However I believe it’s a mix of numerous issues which allowed my physique to get higher once more.
The truth that my hand was therapeutic correctly made me so completely satisfied that I promised myself: I’ll by no means let it get so unhealthy once more. And whereas the commissions have actually picked up since June, I nonetheless handle to maintain my physique wholesome, my shoulders relaxed and my hand pain-free.
I’ll share a number of the issues with you that I did to get the place I’m now.
1. Getting skilled assist actually made all of the distinction – go see physiotherapist or physician
2. Taking sufficient brakes. I take a brief break each 20 or half-hour, or at the very least I attempt. They’re not lengthy, only some minutes. I stroll a bit, stretch my arm or get some espresso. I nonetheless should set an alarm on my cellphone to remind me, in any other case I overlook.
3. Beginning on daily basis with yoga stretches. I developed my very own routine which is barely 10 minutes and really low-key. It’s primarily geared toward my again, neck and arms. It helps to loosen my muscle tissue within the morning. You could find loads quick and candy yoga routines on youtube.
4. Taking common walks. I seen sports activities like pilates and barre exercise have been too intense and solely made the cramps worse. For me, walks and dancing (with youtube movies or zumba lessons), work greatest to calm down my muscle tissue and make my physique stronger.
5. Doing hand-stretches common all through the day, like this. However watch out with this! Do not do something that is hurting your hand. You do not have to stretch so far as they do on this video.
6. I take advantage of a grip on my Apple pencil which makes it loads simpler to carry, so there’s much less strain for my hand muscle tissue. It appears to be like a bit like the image under. There are a lot of differing types.
7. Massaging my muscle tissue with a tennis ball: test this video for an instance ( from minute 3.07 for shoulder therapeutic massage).
8. Sleeping with a brace when it was crucial. That approach my hand could not transfer round at evening and will absolutely relaxation and heal
9. Sleeping on an ergonomic pillow. It made all of the distinction for my neck! And it does not should be costly. Ikea has an excellent and low cost one.
The ache is gone and my physique feels good once more. However I nonetheless should watch out and stay doing my morning yoga routine and walks. I nonetheless use the Apple pencil grip and my ergonomic pillow. Taking sufficient brakes is probably the most tough half for me but additionally one of the vital issues. So I hold engaged on that. I presently primarily really feel very relieved that it is all getting higher. And the lockdown within the spring did make numerous distinction. It made me realise that your well being is definitely one of the vital issues you’ve got. And likewise that when you’ve got a bodily profession, taking good care of your physique is not one thing you do in between. It has to a part of your routine each single day.
I hope that is useful for different illustrators and artists going through RSI, carpal tunnel syndrome or comparable bodily situations. When you’ve got any questions, drop me an e-mail or Instagram DM!
