You’re a Potter and Your Back Hurts

Oct 25

The wheel spins, and I feel the familiar tension in my lower back, but as the day goes on it becomes pain. The physicality of pottery takes its toll, day after day, year after year.

I’m working in small batches lately as I hurt my back three months ago, I’m still really limited in what I can do. Everything I’m making is pretty small using really soft clay. I’m just so happy to be at the wheel again!

Being a potter is not easy on the body. Even though I’ve used a stand up wheel for 25 plus years there is still repetitive motion and slight twisting that stresses the spine. It’s still way better than using a low sit down wheel. My 60 year old body has some advice to young potters… raise your wheel, (even 4-6 inches) and get a higher stool, or use a stand up wheel. Break your work day into chunks of time, vary what you do. Throw, trim, decorate, glaze, just change it up and move! My biggest mistake is staying at the wheel for too long because I am “in the zone”. I always want to just keep going, feeling that rhythm and getting the next pot better than the last. Now, because of the pain I stop after an hour and stretch, or dance, or lay flat on the floor. I get back to the wheel, maybe not in the zone, but feeling that I can go another hour.
I’m hoping to still make pots when I’m 80, so I guess I better start learning to pace myself.

Here are some pics of the small pots I am working on. Looking forward to glazing them!