Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Bowhunting shoulder problems

Back off the Draw weight, and get an MRI (with contrast) on the shoulder after the season is over. I've have two surgically reparied shoulders. Rehabing the rotator cuff repair on the left one now. I'll crossbow hunt this year, but be good to go next fall.

Don't worry about your accuracy after 10 shots, you'll only get 1 in the field. I purposly never shoot more than 3 arrows at a time. 9-12 per session. You don't get to "warm up" when your hunting.

Try one of these: http://www.shoulderhorn.com/

Recommended by a buddy of mine. I have one. It concentrates exercise on the rotator cuff muscles.

Did that a few years ago, 4 mm. tear. Surgeon recommended rotator cuff surgery. Big surprise there, kind of like asking the barber if you should get a haircut. Went to a physical therapist and a trainer, got the exercise regimen they recommended to strengthen the shoulder instead of surgery.

I avoid surgery if at all possible. In 2001, I had "routine" surgery for a ruptured ACL. The surgeon, supposedly one of the best in Denver, nicked the peroneal nerve in the back of my knee. The muscle in the front of my calf was paralyzed (100%) for a year, requiring me to wear a brace (AFO) to hold my foot up and keep it from flopping like a dead fish. Had surgery on the nerve that partially restored function, it's 60-70%.

My Mother-in-law had routine hip replacement surgery. Surgeon screwed up and cracked the head of her femur, had to wire it back together, and she was in pain for the rest of her life.

That's why I avoid surgery. Thanks all for the recommendations.

why do you think its called "practice"!

why do you think its called "practice"!

i have three screws in my left shoulder. it bothered me when i first started practicing with my bow but went away with the practice i shoot a compound set at 75# and a 60# longbow

I would just make sure your not doing permanent damage. I had an MRI 2 years ago on my right shoulder and the doc said the rotator cuff wasn't torn but my shoulder was a mess and when the pain got to bad I'd just need to get it done. The other should has a tear in the bicept tendon or the connective tissue where it attaches. Doc wanted to do a radioactive mri and I told her that its messed up why do I have to spend 2K to find that out. She's agreed and is ready to schedule me for surgery now. I decided to just wait for now, as I was more concerned with screwing up my shoulder permanently but it seems I don't really have to worry about tha so much with my injuries so I'll endure the pain for now.

I'm not sure I can picture the "T" shape, but I generally agree. Muscle tension in the bow arm during the draw stroke will lead to pain and injury. Use your structural (bone) support to keep the bow steady and rely on back tension to draw and keep the bow drawn. If you are extending or pushing like centershot said, it's a recipe for both inconsistency and injury - once you have muscle tension in your arm during the draw, you can't get it out until the arrow is gone - start, hold, and follow-through, relaxed. Raise the bow so the sight is slightly above the target, bow arm extended, then draw straight back using your back tension (little to no muscle tension in your bow arm), drop the sight onto the target, and keep your shoulder low and tucked into the socket. You'll have less pain and be much more steady at full draw.

bend the elbow you hold the bow with. it takes a lot of stress off the shoulder

curious about what you mean when you say you have shoulder instability. if you have a labral tear or rotator cuff tear you may be able to get away with some muscle specific exercises. I work in medicine, am a bowhunter and have been training 20 yrs. also, i assume you mean the brace arm is the one with the problem.

you need to build good shooting form and muscle memory for that cold morning hike to your stand in the dark and taking a shot when your muscles are cold and stiff.

shooting
1) back off the draw weight for now
2) shoot the far distances first from 3 positions: sideways, shoulders square and left foot back 45 degrees. you will hold the pin longer on the far shots. then bring the target closer and repeat.
3) don't take too many shots when you start to fatigue nor make changes to your setup based on fatigued shots.

shoulder
the joint is basically a ball and socket.
there are a ton of exercises for rehabbing a shoulder online. knowing what will help you will be trial and error. but i believe for you: the best bet will be internal and external rotation exercises with resistance and pendulum exercises. these will tighten the rotator cuff muscles and keep the humeral head (ball) firmly seated against the labrum (socket) and pull it lower in teh sub-acromial space (roof) to reduce any impingement pain you may have holdign the bow.

the IR/ER can be done with a band and a door knob...look them up.

GOOD LUCK & BE WELL

Swap out limbs for the 50-60 lb'rs. Your shoulder is worth more than taking chances. I know kids that get pass thru's with 40-45lb draw wt.

Thanks Ed. My Matthews Switchback is set at 60, and as long as I don't shoot too many arrows in a single session, I've been doing OK. I posted this in the elk hunting forum, but heck, I like the photo so much I'll post it again. COmplete pass through (see the red on the fletching) on this one, which was my first big-game animal killed with a bow!!!!

Correct on all counts, rotator cuff tear, 4 mm. as dignosed with an MRI. I've been doing muscle-specific exercises for a few years now as recommended by a godd therapist and they do help.

Smoke,
My shoulder took over a year and a half to get to the point it dosen't bother me.(torn labrum, and torn bicept). Short of surgery we may never beable to shoot painfree and stable...

62#'s and a good sharp Magnus Stinger is where I'm at now. And like I said one shot a day every day is all I need! Actually I shoot better now as I think I shot so much I developed some bad habits.. With this crappy economy and work(carpenter) at an all time shortage I'm thinking of biteing the bullet and getting cut on.

Good luck!