Knitting - the new pain killer!

9:14am Monday 15th October 2007

Comments (8)   Have your say »

PATIENTS are being encouraged to knit to beat the pain in a new initiative at the Royal United Hospital in Bath.

The belief that knitting can have therapeutic effects has led to the setting up of a new patients group in the pain clinic called Stitch, Links and Chatter.

The group, which meets twice a month, was set up by nurse practitioner Carol Davidson who said: "There is substantial anecdotal evidence that the repetitive nature of knitting and the distraction it provides, allows people to be less aware of their pain.

"It's also a valuable social interaction for our patients, many of whom are isolated because of the chronic nature of their conditions."

Betsan Corkhill, a physiotherapist who helped get the group off the ground, has been gathering evidence on the positive effects of knitting and cross stitching on her website Stitchlink.com "The testimonies I have collected strongly suggest that knitting and stitching could be effective therapies for a number of conditions like chronic pain, depression and could help in breaking addictive habits"

The belief that knitting can help patients both physically and mentally is being scientifically tested by researchers at Cardiff University.

A pilot study is looking at whether the rhythm involved in knitting can help eliminate negative thought cycles and rumination.

Set up in the summer, the group has eight members with a further 30 interested in getting involved.

Some of the women knit for friends and family but have discovered an outlet for their talents in the hospital itself - by knitting for premature babies in the neo natal intensive care unit.