Well guys it's about time for archery season to open down here in South Eastern VA. Oct 1st to be exact. Im experiencing a bit of a problem. Back in January i injured my shoulder playing football. It has bothered me on and off since but not to bad. Well within the past few weeks i dusted off the ole' bow and began shooting. I believe i may have overdone it, once you start shooting it's hard to stop! Now im stuck here one week before the season and my shoulder is killing me. I have yet to go to the Dr. I am going to make appt soon. I was just wondering if anyone had any shoulder issues and overcame them? I sure dont want to end my archery b/c of this. I can still shoot without a problem it's just afterwards that's bad. Drawing is no problem. I have read where some people have had extensive shoulder surgery and were able to shoot again. My bow is currently set at 60 lbs. I guess i have one thing going for me, the fact of one shot in the woods on a deer is about all you will have but practicing and keeping that edge is half the fun. I have no limited mobility as if someone with a rotator cuff tear would have. I think it's just "out of wack" as some would say. Laying off the shooting and keeping it iced hopefully to recover. Anybody had any similar problems and know how to fix them? Thanks,
I would suggest Advil before shooting sessions and also some front and latteral raise to strengthen the deltoids. Ice Massage afterwards not just ice. Also you can do Jobes exercises for strength. I am an Exercise Physiologist at the Cleveland Clinic. http://www.rbjc.com/Includes/Documents/jobes_1_13_shoulder_exercises.pdf
I'd have to ask what kind of injury you suffered back January. I injured my shoulder trying to draw a 70# bow when I was shopping for my first bow. It tore the cartilage in the socket. I had it checked out and ended up having surgery to repair it in early October 2007. They did the surgery arthroscopically and I was shooting my bow again by early December, but mine was a "best case" scenario. If I were you I'd go and have it checked out as soon as possible just to make sure you're not going to do even more damage to it. If it's something like I had then you'll have a choice of getting it fixed now or waiting until after the season. I didn't have that choice. I had to get it repaired before I retired from the Navy. If it's something more serious then you definitely need to know before you start climbing trees. There's a greater likelihood of doing more damage climbing than shooting your bow.
I believe i injured it blocking using my shoulder. Seems like the pain originally started in the trapezius or top and back of shoulder.
just give your shoulder a rest. See a doctor make sure its nothing to serious and then get back to us on what the doctor said and i can try to help you from there. Its hard to help you with out knowing the extend of your injury and who you are as a person whether u have high or low pain tolerance. So just let us know what the doctor says
I'm in a similar situation... I partially tore my bicep head 9 years ago doing martial arts, been babying it ever since. Back in the spring, I moved 9 yards of dirt for our gardens and I think I tore my rotator cuff. It has been keeping me up many nights from the stabbing pain, and I am DREADING surgery - and will not face it until after deer season. But mine is hurting from shooting also - feeling it after 10 shots or so. Aleve twice a day.
I separated my right shoulder many years ago. Over time pulling back on a bow actually seemed to help rebuild the strength in my shoulder and I have had no problems with it for quite some time. Of course the injury I had could be different than yours...
Why not use external rotation/scapulae retraction focused exercises? Most rotator cuff/shoulder problems tend be due to overactive internal rotators and weak external rotators. Seems to me like front and lateral raises would only strength the anterior/lateral deltoids, which would only worsen the condition. I would personally recommend dropping the weight of the bow momentarily and gradually increasing as the shoulder begins to strengthen. And since archery primarily consists of use of the scapulae muscles, scapulae retractors and external rotators, I would suggest external rotation of the scapulae focused exercises.
Go to a doctor...first Second if u need operation,go buy a x-bow. Why are u waiting so long to see a doctor? Turn down u'r bow a bit. I thought u rebs were tough.....J/K I have blown discs in spine/Neck...I just eat Vicks and Somas like candy. The ''buzz''is kinda nice too....J/K again..... Sounds to me like u'r a little to old for a childs game.....God bless,good luck,Hope u have a quick recovery Prayers from a damb Yankee!!!!
Went to doc today, Seems to be inflamation in the AC Joint. All the other pain came from being unconditioned in shooting for a good while and other muscles trying to compensate for the pain that the AC is causing. No accuracy issues though thank goodness. Just gotta ease up. Thanks again for all the help!
Ok so you might have to so some warming up before shooting and do a a little stretching of your shoulder and take advil before you shoot to help the inflammation and the most importantly you HAVE TO ICE your shoulder after you shoot. This will slow the blood flow to the shoulder and cause less inflammation. It will be annoying at first to do all the prevention but keep up with it and your shoulder will heal just takes time
I have something called well idk what its called but both my shoulders are equally ****! I had to lower my draw whieght last year because everytime I drew my bow my trigger arm LITERALLY came out of socket and I was unable to move my arm or aim so I would just point and release the arrow. I've had this problem for a few years and have been putting it off. I dont want to mess up my hunting season but i am certain I will need surgury on both sometime. oh and they both hurt lol pretty much round the clock. They do hurt worse when I do things repetativly no matter the wieght. Normally the worst when im doing something over and over the weight can be 1 lb thats what usually really makes em sore. anyone a doctor?
Well, I'll share the "worst case" scenario. 37 years old and here goes: about 6 years ago was working for a trucking co. and tore the labreal cartilage (small ring inside the shoulder that holds the humerus in the socket) Had surgery and missed that season. Well, fast forward to last January and I was rolling a 1500# round bale of hay into the barn for the horses and tore the biceps tendons, labreal cartilage, rotator cuff, and lateral tendon attachments. Figured I was doomed forever, well, a great surgeon who has repaired such figure as Mario Lemeuix and John Elway fixed things the correct way and after 5 mths of physical therapy, I was shooting 60# and feeling better than ever. Yes, this was worst case scenario, but with proper medical attention and also the desire to return to archery and hours of physical therapy all is fine now. Just LISTEN to the Dr. and follow his treatment to the "T". Good luck!
Sounds like it's not that bad. I have some sort issue in my shoulder and it has been bothering me on and off since May, sounds similar to what you might have. Three weeks ago I couldn't pull either of my bows without excruciating pain. Up until yesterday I did hit the shoulders twice a week with 50% of the weight I normally train with and didn't shoot the bow. I picked up my hunting bow yesterday after having the shop install a new rest and shot a little and it felt much better. Not sure if lightening the workout and not shooting were the answer but it was manageable with minor soreness so the exercises seem to help. I have also been taking a supplement for inflammation(Astaxanthin) that has helped a lot as well.
Hot Shower to start Work Out, Shoot, exercise etc. then take another Hot Shower Ice down with T.E.N.S. machine for 20 minutes increasing the output as it cools. This allows it to cool deep! Next Day Repeat! Hot Shower\Workout\Hot Shower\Ice with TENS A + B channels across sore area!
I had the same issues, started getting accupuncture treatments and has been amazing for me,see her once a month and no problems
Just a FYI if you ever do need surgery. I've had 2 rotator cuff repairs on my right shoulder. Plan on 4 months of healing before bowhunting again. Now I only pull a 58lb Mathews Monster and see no need to increase it anyway. In my earlier years I used to pull a 70lb recurve...gee why did I need repairs????
