I'm pretty new to carving and absolutely loving the process, but I've been experiencing some intense neck pain after about an hour of carving. I've tried a few things like using a chair with elbow rests, but I'm curious to hear what other strategies have worked for you guys. Any tips or tricks to help manage this neck pain? Thanks!
3 Answers
For me, resting my elbows on the table at a 90-degree angle keeps my project right in front of me, so I don’t have to constantly look down. I’ve only done a couple of small whittling projects, so I’m not sure how it would work on larger ones, but it really helps! Also, I can't stress enough the benefits of neck exercises—made a huge difference after I had a concussion.
I found that using an inflatable travel neck pillow can really help ease the strain. I latch it behind my neck so my chin rests on the cushion. It’s a bit strange, but once I figure out the right position, it takes the pressure off and allows me to stay focused on my work. Hope you find some relief too!
I've had my share of back pain while carving too. What really helps me is remembering to take breaks whenever I start feeling discomfort. I also separate my roughing and detail work—doing the detailed stuff first while I'm fresh reduces the strain on my neck later in the session. It’s not a perfect fix, but it’s worked pretty well for me. Let me know if you have any other questions about carving!