Knitting is the better therapy.
Everyone knows the moments when they feel overwhelmed or stressed. It is now widely known that knitting can help in such situations. Knitter and physiotherapist Betsan Corkhill has also recognised the "feel-good" effects of knitting and investigated them more closely.
Corkhill is the founder of Stitchlinks, an organisation that works to find out more about the therapeutic benefits of knitting. The findings so far are fascinating. Knitting is an effective, easily accessible way to manage everyday stress. It can also be a valuable tool for people dealing with serious mental health problems or illness.
Did you know that knitting was used as an effective treatment in a UK pain clinic back in 2006? Doctors confirmed that the rhythmic nature of knitting and its constant repetition had a positive effect on the mental and physical condition of their patients.
Corkhill is the founder of Stitchlinks, an organisation that works to find out more about the therapeutic benefits of knitting. The findings so far are fascinating. Knitting is an effective, easily accessible way to manage everyday stress. It can also be a valuable tool for people dealing with serious mental health problems or illness.
Did you know that knitting was used as an effective treatment in a UK pain clinic back in 2006? Doctors confirmed that the rhythmic nature of knitting and its constant repetition had a positive effect on the mental and physical condition of their patients.
“Projekt Sinnvoll”
addi has engaged with this field too. For many years now, we have supported the “Projekt Sinnvoll” project, which explores whether or not and to what extent handicrafts have a positive impact on health.
We are in close contact with Dr Edda Jaleel, a neuroscientist who helped to launch the project. Dr Edda Jaleel shares some of the project’s exciting findings with us.
“Projekt Sinnvoll”
addi has engaged with this field too. For many years now, we have supported the “Projekt Sinnvoll” project, which explores whether or not and to what extent handicrafts have a positive impact on health.
We are in close contact with Dr Edda Jaleel, a neuroscientist who helped to launch the project. Dr Edda Jaleel shares some of the project’s exciting findings with us.
Learn more about the positive effects of handicrafts.
Dr Jaleel has been working on “Projekt Sinnvoll” since 2016. The group of founders, Schier, Montua and Jaleel, started seminars for handicraft retailers in 2017.
Erfahren Sie mehr im Interview mit Frau Jaleel:
Learn more about the positive effects of handicrafts.
Dr Jaleel has been working on “Projekt Sinnvoll” since 2016. The group of founders, Schier, Montua and Jaleel, started seminars for handicraft retailers in 2017.
Erfahren Sie mehr im Interview mit Frau Jaleel:
Dr Jaleel, can you tell us a little about what drives you and about Projekt Sinnvoll?
“I worked for many years with researchers from Leipzig University and with German health insurance companies on the prevention of dementia, and this included exploring lifestyle changes. In 2016, our work led to a joint application to the German Innovationsfonds innovation fund for research funding.
In other words, I am very alive to potential when it comes to ways of keeping the heart and brain healthy and fit. People who engage in crafts and handicrafts report that they find the activity calms and relaxes them and puts them in a better mood, and this has always fascinated me. Projekt Sinnvoll takes various different approaches to examining these effects more closely. I am the scientific advisor in charge of the data and our research, which is initially looking at the effects of the various activities on the cardiovascular system.”
Dr Jaleel, can you tell us a little about what drives you and about Projekt Sinnvoll?
“I worked for many years with researchers from Leipzig University and with German health insurance companies on the prevention of dementia, and this included exploring lifestyle changes. In 2016, our work led to a joint application to the German Innovationsfonds innovation fund for research funding.
In other words, I am very alive to potential when it comes to ways of keeping the heart and brain healthy and fit. People who engage in crafts and handicrafts report that they find the activity calms and relaxes them and puts them in a better mood, and this has always fascinated me. Projekt Sinnvoll takes various different approaches to examining these effects more closely. I am the scientific advisor in charge of the data and our research, which is initially looking at the effects of the various activities on the cardiovascular system.”
People often talk about “knitting on prescription”. But what does that actually mean?
Projekt Sinnvoll seeks to draw the attention of decision-makers in the healthcare sector to the beneficial effects of creative activities. The aim, Dr Jaleel explains, is ultimately to put together enough data and enough facts to be able to sit down with health insurers and, for example, discuss covering or contributing to the costs of learning creative and handicraft techniques in the same way as yoga or other relaxation courses are reimbursed by the insurers.
Dr Jaleel is currently running workshops for children and young people to observe the effect of creative techniques on concentration and attention. She has herself had positive experiences here in her work as a mental coach. As your focus is on the piece you are working on, your mind relaxes and you can simply concentrate on the activity. Dr Jaleel finds it does her good and grounds and calms her when things get hectic and noisy. “I feel refreshed afterwards”, she says.
People often talk about “knitting on prescription”. But what does that actually mean?
Projekt Sinnvoll seeks to draw the attention of decision-makers in the healthcare sector to the beneficial effects of creative activities. The aim, Dr Jaleel explains, is ultimately to put together enough data and enough facts to be able to sit down with health insurers and, for example, discuss covering or contributing to the costs of learning creative and handicraft techniques in the same way as yoga or other relaxation courses are reimbursed by the insurers.
Dr Jaleel is currently running workshops for children and young people to observe the effect of creative techniques on concentration and attention. She has herself had positive experiences here in her work as a mental coach. As your focus is on the piece you are working on, your mind relaxes and you can simply concentrate on the activity. Dr Jaleel finds it does her good and grounds and calms her when things get hectic and noisy. “I feel refreshed afterwards”, she says.
Genuinely? Handicrafts have a positive effect on health?
“Absolutely. As I mentioned, we have data and observations that reflect the relaxing and calming effect of knitting and crocheting. Drawing on the Stichlinks study, for example, it appears that the level of calm correlates with the frequency of knitting. Other authors have reported lowered blood pressure and a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular diseases, as well as a slowdown in processes of degeneration and in the loss of cognitive performance in older people."
Genuinely? Handicrafts have a positive effect on health?
“Absolutely. As I mentioned, we have data and observations that reflect the relaxing and calming effect of knitting and crocheting. Drawing on the Stichlinks study, for example, it appears that the level of calm correlates with the frequency of knitting. Other authors have reported lowered blood pressure and a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular diseases, as well as a slowdown in processes of degeneration and in the loss of cognitive performance in older people."
Unser Tipp von addi
addi has the tools to go with the activity. The square addiNovel or the toothbrush-shaped addiSwing are wonderfully ergonomic.
Dr Jaleel also likes our olivewood crochet hook. “Ergonomically, it fits perfectly in your hand and the high-quality and hard-wearing material makes it truly sustainable.”
Unser Tipp von addi
addi has the tools to go with the activity. The square addiNovel or the toothbrush-shaped addiSwing are wonderfully ergonomic.
Dr Jaleel also likes our olivewood crochet hook. “Ergonomically, it fits perfectly in your hand and the high-quality and hard-wearing material makes it truly sustainable.”
