I have a 40# Bear Super Grizzly. I’ve been shooting a bow for about a year and because I’m retired I shoot every day, sometimes to much. I put on a b55 string because I didn’t like the one that it was shipped with. Recently I’ve been experiencing pain in the shoulder of my bow hand. I love shooting but the shoulder pain not so much. I have string silencers and the bow shoots really smooth. Since I am fairly new to the sport I was hoping that you might have some suggestions that I could try. Thanks.
Bow shock
Earthen_vessel
1 - 20 of 33 Posts
Joined
·
56 Posts
I have a 40# Bear Super Grizzly. I’ve been shooting a bow for about a year and because I’m retired I shoot every day, sometimes to much. I put on a b55 string because I didn’t like the one that it was shipped with. Recently I’ve been experiencing pain in the shoulder of my bow hand. I love shooting but the shoulder pain not so much. I have string silencers and the bow shoots really smooth. Since I am fairly new to the sport I was hoping that you might have some suggestions that I could try. Thanks.
Xpedition MX-16/ HHA DS-XL5519 sight /Hamskea Hybrid Hunter Pro rest/ 10" Cutter stabilizer
Joined
·
1,832 Posts
Ice and ibuprofen is your friend. You may want to get that shoulder checked by an orthopedic if the pain persists.
And stretch.
Joined
·
23,349 Posts
Earthen -
We have a problem.
We can't see you shoot, and have no idea if you even know how to (correctly), we also don't know anything about your rig.
Besides using the old saying: Doc, it hurts when I lift my arm, and the doc replies, OK, then don't lift your arm. Without a lot more info, there aren't a lot of suggestions we can make.
It might help to look at some of the new shooter sticky threads, if you haven't already.
Viper1 out.
We have a problem.
We can't see you shoot, and have no idea if you even know how to (correctly), we also don't know anything about your rig.
Besides using the old saying: Doc, it hurts when I lift my arm, and the doc replies, OK, then don't lift your arm. Without a lot more info, there aren't a lot of suggestions we can make.
It might help to look at some of the new shooter sticky threads, if you haven't already.
Viper1 out.
@Earthen_vessel
Many years ago, I decided to be extremely competitive in the 3D shoots and with my custom made recurve. So, I shot it every day that the weather would allow, plus a weekly league and 3D shoots on the weekend...every weekend. It wasn't long before I had some pain in between my shoulders (spine) and couldn't draw my bow.
I went to a chiropractor, he took some x-rays and told me, "Until you do some left side exercises and get your spine realigned, you're done shooting a bow." What had happened was the specialized muscle groups that I was using to shoot my bow was drawing my spine out of alignment. The Doc told me that I needed to blend ALL of my upper body muscles to use the assisting and overlapping muscles, along with my specialized muscles for shooting a bow.
As long as I do my upper body exercises, I can shoot as much as I like. 💯
I don't know what type of exercise you do, if any, but this could be a "fix" for your pain. According to my Doc, I had to completely stop shooting, for almost 3 weeks. During that time I was an exercising fool, trying to get in shape to continue with my archery interest.
*** Every case/person is different. This what happened to me, but it may not be right for you. Just food for thought.
Many years ago, I decided to be extremely competitive in the 3D shoots and with my custom made recurve. So, I shot it every day that the weather would allow, plus a weekly league and 3D shoots on the weekend...every weekend. It wasn't long before I had some pain in between my shoulders (spine) and couldn't draw my bow.
I went to a chiropractor, he took some x-rays and told me, "Until you do some left side exercises and get your spine realigned, you're done shooting a bow." What had happened was the specialized muscle groups that I was using to shoot my bow was drawing my spine out of alignment. The Doc told me that I needed to blend ALL of my upper body muscles to use the assisting and overlapping muscles, along with my specialized muscles for shooting a bow.
As long as I do my upper body exercises, I can shoot as much as I like. 💯
I don't know what type of exercise you do, if any, but this could be a "fix" for your pain. According to my Doc, I had to completely stop shooting, for almost 3 weeks. During that time I was an exercising fool, trying to get in shape to continue with my archery interest.
*** Every case/person is different. This what happened to me, but it may not be right for you. Just food for thought.
Joined
·
40 Posts
When they discovered the english ship Rose marie, they could tell who were the archers. T3 and t4 were roated. The same symptoms exist with today's archers. This can be a bad situation. You sympathetic nerves to your heart go through there and if you neck is also getting biased you can alter the activity of your parasympathetic nerves. You could end up with a heart rhythm problem. When shooting if you are locking out joints, holding for long periods each shot, and not doing any muscle balancing work, your neck and spine issues can go beyond irritating and become a health hazard. As for the OP, I would bet that he is shooting with a locked out bow arm and his shoulder is pushing up and back.
Joined
·
56 Posts
Thanks for all your help. I thought there might be something I could do with my bow that would reduce the bow shock. I’m 73 years old and I have been a grunt laborer my whole life. I do 100 pushups every morning and walk about 4 miles every day. I’m not a muscle man but I’m in reasonable shape. I haven’t locked my shooting arm but I have found out that I must drop my shoulder slightly to get better alignment. I love shooting my bow and plan to stick with it in spite of my lack of knowledge and obstacles that stand in my way. If bow shooting was easy it wouldn’t be any fun. Thanks again.
Joined
·
795 Posts
If you can do a 100 pushups every morning, you're in military shape my friend. That, however, has little to do with your shoulder pain. See a doctor and make sure you're not exacerbating an existing problem. By the way, it would take me three days to do a hundred pushups, but then I don't want to anyway. LOL Be careful and go easy.
Joined
·
23,349 Posts
E -
Just curious, do you have a 28" draw?
Best suggestion is to work with a local instructor to see if you're doing anything harmful - remember you can't see what your doing.
I shoot with a lot of guys in their 70's and beyond, and none of them are using 40#.
Viper1 out.
Just curious, do you have a 28" draw?
Best suggestion is to work with a local instructor to see if you're doing anything harmful - remember you can't see what your doing.
I shoot with a lot of guys in their 70's and beyond, and none of them are using 40#.
Viper1 out.
Joined
·
56 Posts
Very interesting comments and appreciated. Yeah, I was thinking that my bow may be too heavy. I wish I had ordered a 35# bow instead. I took off the strike plate and it said 42#. Yeah, maybe I should shoot a lighter bow. It sure wouldn’t hurt. I’ll be keeping my eyes open for a good deal on a lighter bow or maybe I can arrange a trade with someone. That would be sweet.
Joined
·
23,349 Posts
E -
I'd be thinking more in the 25-30# range unless you're planning on hunting. Think you might be surprised at how well a modern rig in that weight range will cast an arrow. Most of my guys do quite well at 60 yards, with the right arrows.
Viper1 out.
I'd be thinking more in the 25-30# range unless you're planning on hunting. Think you might be surprised at how well a modern rig in that weight range will cast an arrow. Most of my guys do quite well at 60 yards, with the right arrows.
Viper1 out.
Joined
·
1,677 Posts
It is called the Mary Rose and their bows were all over about 120lb draw weight
Joined
·
23,349 Posts
bow -
Correct, and the condition is called os acromiale (or colloquially "Archer's shoulder"), and typically the over use has to begin around or during adolescence. Which was the case for English longbowmen.
The fallacy here is that we live in a symmetrical world. With the possible exceptions of weight lifting, gymnastics and swimming, we do very few things in sports or daily life "symmetrically. Sure that may be a nice concept, but that ain't the way it works, and in most cases, doesn't need too.
Viper1 out.
Correct, and the condition is called os acromiale (or colloquially "Archer's shoulder"), and typically the over use has to begin around or during adolescence. Which was the case for English longbowmen.
The fallacy here is that we live in a symmetrical world. With the possible exceptions of weight lifting, gymnastics and swimming, we do very few things in sports or daily life "symmetrically. Sure that may be a nice concept, but that ain't the way it works, and in most cases, doesn't need too.
Viper1 out.
Joined
·
528 Posts
Oh please forgive me, i am ever so sorry, to have messed up a name that i have read many years ago. Yes they pulled some stiff bows, they were also short, were they really pulling 120 pounds? Things tend to get exaggerated. In any case I also shot very heavy bows most of my life, I live the condition that I described. I am 71 and shot for 4 hours today, shooting a bow that is 55 at my draw. At the moment I feel no pain between my shoulders, nock on wood.It is called the Mary Rose and their bows were all over about 120lb draw weight
Joined
·
682 Posts
First, I would have a doc look at your shoulder and get some expert advice from him/her. Second, shooting everyday, using same muscles isn’t a good thing. Weight lifters may work out each day but different muscle groups. Give those used muscles a rest. Your previous life maybe the reason you’re having issues now especially if it involved lifting or repetitive motion like swinging a hammer. I am 77 and shoot 3-4 times a week. More than I did before retiring. Yes, my shoulders and neck are sore so I know the “pain” especially when shooting my 55# bows.
Joined
·
56 Posts
Yeah, it’s no fun getting old. I forgot about all the shoulder trouble I had back in my working years. 15 or so years ago I had shoulder problems and ended up with 5 cortisone shots in my shoulders. I’ll take your advice and space out my shooting sessions. Thanks.
Joined
·
1,136 Posts
Seriously doubt it's bow shock. That tends to be elbow, not bow shoulder.
I do a little over half the pressups you do a day. You're in fighting shape. Pressups are commonly used by trainers, to determine overall muscle group stability and fitness in upper body and core. I would only suggest reverse flys on a machine at the gym to specifically work those rhomboids to keep them balanced.
That said a high bow shoulder can produce such pain, and right in the joint. Is it seated, such that your bow arm shoulder blade is sitting on your rib cage? It should be in the same position as when you make a relaxed 'T' with your arms outstretched standing straight.
I do a little over half the pressups you do a day. You're in fighting shape. Pressups are commonly used by trainers, to determine overall muscle group stability and fitness in upper body and core. I would only suggest reverse flys on a machine at the gym to specifically work those rhomboids to keep them balanced.
That said a high bow shoulder can produce such pain, and right in the joint. Is it seated, such that your bow arm shoulder blade is sitting on your rib cage? It should be in the same position as when you make a relaxed 'T' with your arms outstretched standing straight.
Joined
·
56 Posts
A while ago I realized that my bow shoulder was too high. I’m working on keeping my shoulder down and in line which the other side. I think that’s what initially caused my problem. Thanks you guys. Oh and by the way I do two sets of 50 on the push-ups. 😊
Joined
·
1,677 Posts
Totally agree
Have you ever looked into biotensegrity? It is a fascinating way of looking at how the body works and does away with the concept of levers and pivots.
Joined
·
1,677 Posts
Is there really any need to go all offended?
I haven't met the man who has never been wrong....so is it really that big a deal to have something you quoted as fact ,incorrectly, corrected? When I'm wrong i'd prefer someone to tell me so that I can learn and correct things.
Were they really pulling 120? Yes 120 would've been the lower end of the weight range. The heaviest bows were easily 180#. I've been making bows (of all sorts) for 15 years professionally. Many replicas of Mary Rose bows have been made and come out well above 120#. The heaviest bows pulled have been 250# - 300#. I started shooting with a 67# bow...big deal
I'm very glad that at 71 you still enjoy your archery.
1 - 20 of 33 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
