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"Tennis elbow" from lettering?

Hand Lettering topics: Sign Making, Design, Fabrication, Letterheads, Sign Books.

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Joe Morreale
Posts: 21
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2012 9:32 am

"Tennis elbow" from lettering?

Post by Joe Morreale »

I'm a left handed signpainter. Started out in the mid 70s, using using a mahlstick, pretty much exclusively. Some time ago I got a case of tennis elbow so bad it needed a steroid shot. Six months later, elbow's fine.

Just for kicks I decided I'm not going to use a mahlstick on a 4x8 that had a lot of outlines and such. I used the hand over method just for a little bit. The rest just the pinky down method. It flared up the tennis elbow real bad. Has anybody else developed a similar injury from lettering? I'm wondering if using the mahlstick and the manner that my arm is bent could make the tendon susceptible to injury.

On anther note, adding to the conversation about pricing. I get very little work in my town. Most people want sticky letter signs. For the few who consider a painted sign, I price my work too cheap. It's close to what the vinyl guys want. I would rather get the pleasure of seeing my work around town rather on practice papers on my easel.
Robare M. Novou
Posts: 424
Joined: Thu May 06, 2004 11:18 am
Location: Milwaukee
Contact:

Re: "Tennis elbow" from lettering?

Post by Robare M. Novou »

I believe that Gary Godby turned me on to this many years ago:

http://www.newchapter.com/zyflamend/zyf ... whole-body


I normally don't believe in these voodoo supplements...but this stuff works to relieve your tendinitis inflammation.

I have suggested it to others...and all with positive feedback to it's effectiveness.

It got rid of my sore sign writers elbow inflammation.
What's On Your Book Shelf ?

http://www.milwaukeesignworks.com
Joe Morreale
Posts: 21
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2012 9:32 am

Re: "Tennis elbow" from lettering?

Post by Joe Morreale »

I will give it a shot. My next step is another steroid shot. It disables my arm for over a week and hurts like ..
Lee Littlewood
Posts: 228
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2004 2:36 pm
Location: Portland, Oregon
Contact:

Re: "Tennis elbow" from lettering?

Post by Lee Littlewood »

I've never had my elbow hurting, but there is that muscle down the side of the spine that a friend called "the truck lettering muscle". Too much continuous lettering and that will flare up big-time.
One other thought is about posture - are you keeping mostly balanced when you're working? I had a boss who warned me about that - when he started out he was keeping most of his weight on one foot, so one side was more stressed than the other. He knew it was a problem but couldn't break the habit.

What do tennis players do for physical therapy??
where am i? Now, when i need me...
Frank Smith
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:03 am
Location: Albany, NY
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Re: "Tennis elbow" from lettering?

Post by Frank Smith »

Joe, one of the best things you can do is sign your work like other artists because you are one!
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