Skip to main content

The Lesser Known Health Benefits of Knitting and Crochet

I've previously mentioned that having a hobby can do much to distract someone from chronic pain...and I've previously mentioned that knitting and /or crochet are helpful to those with stress and anxiety--two common problems in the chronic pain population.




Recently, I came across a post in "The Little Things" citing many reasons why knit and crochet are good for your health.  You can read the post in entirety here, but here is the short list of the benefits!

1) Knitting (or crochet) can reduce heart rate and blood pressure. This leads to reduced levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that can damage the circulatory system and the heart.

2) Knit/crochet help keep fingers nimble. Just as walking or other exercise is good for arthritic knees and hips, knitting and crochet serve to exercise muscles in the fingers and hands, which helps to keep them from becoming stiff and dysfunctional.

3) Math skills are improved in people who knit/crochet. Following patterns is all about the math...and it has a subconscious benefit to the brain!

4) The yarn arts help to calm anxiety. Sitting with yarn and hook or needles is meditative!

5) Crochet and knitting sharpen memory. Your brain must rely on memory to create the different stitches in your work, where to change colors, etc.  The more you knit or crochet, the stronger your memory becomes!

6) Crochet/knit can help manage pain. These crafts require focus, and when you're focusing on your work, you're NOT focusing on the mental or physical discomforts associated with chronic pain. Knitting or crochet are great distraction techniques!

7) Knit and crochet help to quell mindless eating. Busy hands and a busy mind don't have time to think about overeating!

8) Knit and crochet help improve brain health. Studies have shown that crocheters and knitters in the 79-89 age group have the healthiest brains and memories.

9) Knitting and crochet help one to feel a sense of purpose. There's nothing like handcrafting something for yourself, a special gift for a friend or relative, or a donation for the poor or needy. (For me, this is the best part of being a crocheter!!!)

10) Knit and crochet help boost one's confidence and self-esteem. There's nothing like completing a project and knowing that you can hold it up with pride and say, "I made this!!!"

 Sources: TheLittleThings;Pixabay






Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Living with Chronic pain hits the big screen!

Been to the movies lately?  Jennifer Aniston is on the big screen in a recent release titled "Cake." Her character, Claire is a victim of chronic pain...she belongs to a support group, where all of the members are coming to terms with the suicide of one of their members.  Of course, she also takes pain medication and addiction is another of her problems...and of course there's more! I guess I am writing this post just to bring readers' attention to the fact that Hollywood has become aware of the crisis that is chronic pain.  This movie is a testament to that. People that don't have to live with this kind of pain don't fully understand the whole story.  Maybe this movie will shed some light on the issues. Here is the official trailer for the movie: Sources: prweb;NorthJersey.com;YouTube
Post a Comment
Read more

The Multimodal Approach to Pain Management

OK..so if you've been following this blog you will notice that there are a good number of ideas to help manage chronic pain.  You might ask yourself, "Which one of these ideas is best for me ?" I would suggest that you might try any number of these things, depending on your level of ability/disability, health care team recommendations, and your personal interests.  There are a number of reasons for doing this: 1) The patient is in control..with few exceptions, it is your decision what to try/not try and how many different things you want to experiment with at any time. 2) Non drug pain management ideas do not have any of the drug interactions or side effects that medications have.  You may have to set limits or modify activity according to personal circumstances, but usually it does not hurt to try any of them. 3)You usually do not need a prescription for most of the ideas I have described.  There are a few exceptions, such as physical therapy.  There ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Beware Of The Tick!

It's tick season, everyone! And while we all know about Lyme Disease and its lingering effects, a new problem has entered the scene. According to the CDC, the Powassan virus is another tick-borne disease that has recently been recognized. The CDC says symptoms become apparent anywhere from one week to one month after infection. Symptoms include vomiting, weakness, confusion, loss of coordination, problems with speech and seizures. Approximately half of those infected by this virus have permanent neurological symptoms, which can include muscle wasting, problems with memory, and recurrent headaches. Many people who have been infected with Powassan virus required hospitalization and sometimes even respiratory support (i.e., a respirator). Treatment is focused on supportive measures. In the meantime, preventive measures are the best way to avoid Lyme disease, Powassan virus , or any other tick-borne virus.  You can read more about preventive measures by clicking here . Sour...
Post a Comment
Read more