Shoulder injury and archery advice

[*******]

Hey all


I am wondering if anyone has had a shoulder injury in the past and how that has affected your ability to shoot a bow and carry a pack.

I have been an avid shooter, over 400 shots a week all year, for a number of years. Last summer while riding my road bike I was t-boned by a car blowing through a stop sign and I ended up in an ambulance. Complete separation of my left A/C joint (grade 3/4). This means my shoulder is no longer attached to my collar bone. My shoulder and shoulder blade "free float" now. I have been in physio rehab and hitting the gym daily focussing on the shoulder. I can now shoot about 50 arrows a night at my usual 70 pound draw before it starts to hurt so bad I have to stop. Last september I couldn't lift my bow past my waist so I am pretty happy with this.

If anyone out there has had an A/C separation or other shoulder injury I would love some info on how that affected your shooting and ability to carry a pack.

Thanks

 

[packer58]

Hey *******, that's one heck of a handle you got there It sounds like your recovering pretty well if you can sling 50 arrows a session @ 70#. I personally have not had any shoulder injuries and 50 arrows a night @ 70# is indeed a workout. Congrats on your recovery!!!!

 

[tdcour]

I agree that it sounds like you are doing really well. I played a lot of baseball growing up and actually all the way through college. I blew out my shoulder once and blew out my elbow another time. I tore my labrum, which caused my shoulder to come out of socket and tear 2 muscles in my rotator cuff. The comeback for baseball was extremely slow going. I actually couldn't throw for almost a year. As far as archery, it was the shoulder I draw with rather than hold the bow with, but I'm not sure which one would have been worse. It took me a long time to get back to where it didn't hurt... right about two years actually. It still gives me fits when the weather changes since I have a metal anchor in it now. As far as carrying a pack, I don't notice a difference except that it feels like my injured shoulder gets tired faster in the neck muscles. What I have also noticed is that if I stop working out and lifting weights for a while (6+ months) I will notice little pains and uncomfortable feelings creeping back into my shoulder. Doctor said it was because my muscles have to work harder to keep my shoulder in place now and if I don't keep them strong with exercise I'll start to feel the pain again. My shoulder is actually torn again now (started playing town team baseball and tore it again), but I am putting off going under the knife as long as I can. I was told as long as I can keep those muscles in shape around the socket, I should be fine.

My advice to you is to keep doing what you are doing. This year during hunting season you might want to decrease the draw weight of your bow so you can make sure and draw it and shoot it fairly comfortable when you are cold. Other than that, it will just take time to heal and hopefully get back to where you were. You are truly dedicated because I know a lot of people that would be put out of archery completely let alone shooting as much as you are after an accident like that!

 

[wolftalonID]

Your trying too hard brother!!!! Disregard Cameron's point of view and let it rest. I honestly shoot about 12 arrows a month mayyybe until right before a trip, then jump to 20 a night for a week and its still all good. I fell off a steel roof I was re roofing a few years back and dislocated my draw shoulder 4 or 5 weeks or so before my hunt. Was just fine...and i let it rest.

I quantify its all still good as when I shoot a group of four arrows, I tube one 1 out of three groups at 20 yards. My wife actually complained about my arrow budget so I cut back.... And still break em.

So let it go, rest it up, and your form wont go away.... Promise.

 

[jjenness]

I had shoulder surgery on my draw shoulder in December 2012 for a torn labrum, torn rotator cuff and a big bone spur. I let my shoulder rest up and just did physical therapy for about 4 months before picking up my bow. The only difference I saw was that I had to build some stamina up but once that came back all was good just like I never had surgery.

 

[Don K]

As stated if your shooting 50 arrows at 70 pounds you sound good to go. Personally 50 arrow per session is way to much after I had my shoulder surgery. I turned my bow down and even hunted at 50 pounds for the first season. I now have it around 62 pounds and It does what I need it to do.

For me it was quality not quantity during my recovery when I was practicing.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

I had shoulder surgery on my draw shoulder in December 2012 for a torn labrum, torn rotator cuff and a big bone spur. I let my shoulder rest up and just did physical therapy for about 4 months before picking up my bow. The only difference I saw was that I had to build some stamina up but once that came back all was good just like I never had surgery.

I was gonna say to do a search on this because the same thing happen to a member awhile back. It must have been you jjenness