stcif Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 I was wondering how many of you have hurt your shoulders/elbows etc.. while shooting a bow. I recently had a new string put on my Diamond Liberty. The old string stretched and wore out and I noticed when I cranked the bow up it would only go to about 63 pounds. After I had the new string put on I cranked it up and it went to 70. So now I drop the poundage a few pounds to about 67 pounds. I shoot it a little like that without any problems. Then I join a local league in January. I shoot the first night, taking probably 55-60 shots with practice and all. The next day my shoulder is sore. I thought I hurt it weight lifting. Never occured I hurt it shooting since I have been shooting heavy since last summer. (less weight though). A week goes by and I shoot again. I then realize the shoulder pain is from drawing my bow. This was about 3 weeks ago. I have yet to draw my bow due to the pain. I tried drawing my sons bow at about 35 pounds and that hurts. I definately did something to the front part of my right shoulder (I shoot right handed). Just wondering how many other people have had similar injuries. I don't plan on shooting for a while now. I have a scheduled doctors apointment early March. Hope it's better by then though. I learned that I will now shoot about 55 pounds. No reason for me to shoot at 67 pounds in a league. I always seem to learn things the hard way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KirkV Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 My shoulders have been my weak spot the last 4 years. Also you already have learned 60 pounds and a good broadhead will kill about anything. The rest is all for show in my opinion. Shoulders take a long time to heal dpendent on what you have done to them. I have seen torn rotators to excessive bone in the shoulder joint I had to have surgically removed. All of the above take time to heal, and if you continue to do what irritates them while they are trying to heal it will take even longer! Good Luck with the doctor and keep us informed. Kirk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 Went through a shoulder problem once right after a deer season. I stuggled through that bow season but toward the end I found during my last moment of truth that I couldn't draw my bow. I was fortunate though. About 2 1/2 months of physical therapy cured my problem. My best friend has gone through 3 shoulder surgeries now. Each time is was a torn or partially torn rotator cuff. The healing process after surgery is about 6 months. He only pulls 51lbs. on his bow now. Hopefully you're not looking at surgery. If you are, get it done ASAP so you're good to go by this fall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straight Shooter Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 After having two shuolder surgeries in the last three years, I feel your pain. Your pain could be from a couple of different things, one could be bicep tendonitis, bone spurs in the joint socket, or a slight tear in your rotator cuff. I hope for you it is only one of these and not the last one. It sounds like to me that it is a bone spur and its aggrivating the tendons around it since you've gone up to heavier draw weight. Also, 67# is a lot to shoot for tournaments, that is what I've got my hunting bows set up and my tourney bow is on 60 pounds. Give time, take care of it, ice it down and take a deflamitory like Ibuprofen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitetail Freak Hunter Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 I wanted to share something with you all.... this last bowhunting season was pretty much a wash as a result of a left shoulder injury that prevented me from practicing for the up coming 2008 season. I was bummed out to say the least, but God provided a great buck during our rifle season just 2 days prior to my schedualed surgery. Well the surgery was on Nov 17th, 2008 where the surgeon removed 1" of collar bone along with the collar bone joint, bursa sack and did a RC tear repair. Well his views of bowhunting after such a surgery, was telling me that he believed I would never pull a bow again. Well I discovered that both my physical therapist are bowhunters as well, and they assured me that I would be bowhunting for the 2009 season. I have been doing all of my excersizes that were given me to do, and then I was placed on independant PT. That is basicly the workers comp people putting me on my own for my own accountability and program at the same gym. My physical therapist had asked me to start dry drawing my bow without releasing, just to get my left shoulder used to the bow being extended by my left arm. This was basicly no differant than the pully weight excersises at the gym. Well God is awesome when he gives us the desires of our hearts. Exactly 3 months to the day I was in Spirit Quest Archery here in Kalispell, Mt shooting my bow at just 10 pound draw weight less than I shoot normally. I'm drawing and shooting my bow with no disruption to my old form and ability. I was finding myself making good K-Zone shots at 10, 20, 30 and 40 yards, and just can't begin to tell you all just how excited this makes me. So I'm taking it slowly with just a couple days a week shooting for now. I know Jesus was speaking to others here about something totally differant, but this verse fits my situation. Luke 18:27 Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." NIV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straight Shooter Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 Amen Brother! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stcif Posted February 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 As I thought many people have had these injuries. If I put my left hand on top of my right shoulder and then lift my right arm up I can feel a popping/crunching sensation. I have had this sensation for many years and I don't know if the archery made that worse or if I injured something totally different. The pain seems to be coming from what I believe to be the upper part of the deltoid, possibly the tendon. Who knows. I'm the farthest thing from a doctor. I don't forsee me finishing this archery session I joined. I will keep you guys posted. Thanks for the input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 I have a heart condition and some times it my chest would hurt when I pulled it back, so now I am going to reduce the poundage to 60lbs. Don't over do it. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowtech_archer07 Posted February 25, 2009 Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 Never had pain from shooting my bow. I have injured my shoulder lifting weights and that is no fun. I still feel pain in that shoulder from time to time. I took about 2 months off of lifting to rehab it and like I said, it still hurts every once in a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rookieee Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 I hurt my elbow with the bow about two month ago and the dr told me if i keep it up next time around will be surgery so im not goin to used it till next season and hope for the best and im at 58 lbs of presure only:eek: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straight Shooter Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 As I thought many people have had these injuries. If I put my left hand on top of my right shoulder and then lift my right arm up I can feel a popping/crunching sensation. I have had this sensation for many years and I don't know if the archery made that worse or if I injured something totally different. The pain seems to be coming from what I believe to be the upper part of the deltoid, possibly the tendon. Who knows. I'm the farthest thing from a doctor. I don't forsee me finishing this archery session I joined. I will keep you guys posted. Thanks for the input. Sounds like you've got bone spurs adn that popping is them doing one of two things or both. After a period of time bone spurs will wear a socket into the opposite bone and when a new motion is introduced it will take the spur out of its normal area and therefore create a pop. Also, it could be the same bone spur popping against a tendon and eventually start cutting through it. Believe me this is what I've had done ot me on both shoulders. My doctor told me it was from age, wear and tear from years of sports, repetative motion work, and a couple of car accidents hurting my shoulders. He tells me, WELCOME TO MIDDLE AGE! LOL Good luck to you and keep us posted on your status. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layin on the smackdown Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 I hurt my shoulder golfing last summer...evidenlty i was trying to crush the ball a little too much...and my form flat out sucks...but i saw a doc, they put me on meds, i quit taking them because i did'nt poop for like a week , and eventually my shoulder healed itself. I was 100% by mid September... Hope it gets better soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike13candace Posted March 6, 2009 Report Share Posted March 6, 2009 I had both shoulders operated on three years apart. AC joint surgery. Removing 1" of collar bone from right side, 1/2" from left side. With a little work stretching and training I was able to continue 58lbs. of draw weight . No problem now.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimPic Posted March 6, 2009 Report Share Posted March 6, 2009 I shoot low poundage longbows and recurves(47#-54#)and never had any shoulder problems..never had any problems shooting thru deer either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stcif Posted March 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2009 Here's my update - I had a doctor's appoinment set for March 11 th which they just re-scheduled on me to a later date. My shoulder has been feeling better so I lowered my bow to 50 pounds and shot two nights ago. I stretched it good and warmed up for a while. I shot my 15 rounds for the league for a total of 45 shots, plus about 10-12 warm ups. I shot a 397 which is my average so far. It still isn't 100% and I hope I didn't rush things, but sometimes I get impatient. Two days later it doesn't feel too bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kid Posted March 8, 2009 Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 when i recieved my bow for my birthday at 16 i was so excited when i got it i shot it the whole weekend,, i woke up monday morning with back spasms,, i have never been in so much pain before,, i had to wait till my mom got home from work that day for her to take me to the docters,, i know now that when i get tired to put the bow up for the day.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Posted March 8, 2009 Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 Dislocated both. Yeah OW! The easiest way you can tell if your poundage is too high is to do the following. 1. Nock an arrow 2. Point at the target 3. While staying on target, draw back as slowly as possible (no skyjacking!!!) 4. Count slowly to 10 5. Don't release! 6. While staying on target, let back down as slowly as possible. If you can't do all parts of that exercise smoothly and with ease, you're liable to really hurt your shoulder. Take that as a sign to turn the poundage down. The affects of pulling too much are cumulative. They'll sneak up on you. Give yourself a chance to heal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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