So, yesterday I was trying out some different bows. I shot a few groups with two different 50lb bows, and all was fine. Then I drew a 70lb bow a couple of times, which is much more than I'm used to. Everything was fine last night, but then this morning my left shoulder is killing me (I'm a right handed shooter). It's not sore, but feels hurt, especially when I bring my arm parallel to my shoulder. Have any of you had this happen before when you've tried pulling too much weight?
Shoulders are a complex area that traditionally requires good diagnosis on the medical side and patience on the patient side. That being said you probably just overworked your shoulder some and just need to give it a couple of days rest. If pain continues go see a dr.
you don't need to go all out when it comes to draw weight, you want a weight that you feel comfortable with. I have my bow maxed out at 60 lbs, but I can keep it at full draw for minutes, you never know when you will have to be at full draw for a long period of time, it happens. So don't overdo it, try bumping it back down to 50lbs. and work your way up, it's like exercising if you haven't worked a particular muscle in awhile, you have to start light and work your way up or you will strain or pull something!
Hope it gets to feeling better soon. Like someone else mentioned. I'm only pulling 60 lbs, but can hold it for awhile. That's plenty of weight for what I'm trying to do. Take some ibuprofen and rest. repeat. Good Luck.
ABSOLUTELY, but I think you'll be okay. You probably would have known it had you done something serious. It happened to me when I was shopping for my first bow in February 2007. I was test shooting a 70 pound Diamond Liberty and as I went to do my "push-pull" draw and he stopped me and said the correct way to do it was hold the bow out, reach forward and draw it back. So I tried it. I pulled so hard it tore the cartilage in my right shoulder socket. There was an audible "pop" and I dropped to one knee from the pain. I wrenched my shoulder around and it popped again, at which point I wanted to hit the guy. Anyway, he then cranked the bow down to 60 pounds and I kept shooting. I thought I was fine, but ended up having surgery to repair the damage in October of that year.
Aleve... I live on the stuff. Between two bum knees, a back that's worse and a partially detached bicep head from Marine Corps Martial Arts, its like vitamins to me. 21 years in the Corps is not healthy for your body.
I have a pretty badly ruined rotator cuff and have found that if I hold my shoulder in a little tighter when drawing back my bow it doesn't hurt. My shoulder will pop/crack after I pull my bow back but when drawing it back properly it won't hurt. I have been playing QB for the last few years on my football team and have had games where I can't even lift my arm up after it from the pain. It goes away after a few days to a week with good rest. so try giving your shoulder some rest than try changing your form a little while drawing your bow back to see if it helps. So far I am shooting at 70lbs and not having issues with my shoulder now that I'm not throwing anymore.
