Too much shooting - not a good thing???

[eagle24]

Over the past 3 months I have really been shooting a lot.  I shoot every day for at least 45 minutes and most days 1-2 hours.  I have dropped down about 12lbs in draw weight and may have mistakenly fooled myself into thinking that I was'nt over doing it.  For the last couple of weeks I have been experiencing an increasing pain in my left shoulder.  It is worse in the morning and gets better as the day goes on, however the last couple of days it has been bad enough that I am going to take a break from shooting and see if it helps.  I feel the pain most when I lift my left arm out from my side or straight out in front.  Hopefully, it is just inflamed from over use.  Anyone experienced similar shoulder pain?

[SlowBowinMO]

I used to have a lot of problems with shoulder pain.  The key for me was learning to stretch and warm up properly prior to shooting, and also quitting when I started feeling fatigued.

I've had no issues since, in fact I'd kind of forgotten about it.

[Otto]

Yep, I've done that before..  My rotator cuff got a bit agravated.

But I ain't a doctor.  I'd get it checked out.  It could turn into something more serious and then your hunting season will go out the window.

[BTH]

As much as I love to shoot I can, and do, over use the muscles. It is important to warm up if you're doing long sessions. Now I like to practice with quality in mind vs. quantity. My sessions usually are 20 or so arrows. I shoot and then walk up and retrieve the arrow, return and shoot again. I found that helps my concentration and the quality of my training in a way that every shot is the first shot.
I have an old shoulder injury I received in the line of duty as a fireman. By practicing this way I still get to shoot and keep the shoulder from acting up all the time. But I still have to stretch, warm up and strength train to keep in condition. I shoot a 57# recurve and still feel like I can keep that weight without having to move down.

[oldgriz]

Let's look at your problem from another angle that might answer the question of "too much shooting"
Would you weight train for 1-2 hours a day every day.  Of course not, your muscles need time to recover from strenuous work outs...  Anyone who does weight training knows this...
Talk to any trainer or physical therapist and they will tell you that also.
Well that is exactly what you are doing by shooting that much every day.
IMO, yes you are overdoing it.  A lot... and yes it will cause problems.  Even if you warm up before shooting.
I am not saying not to shoot every day.  BUT, I am saying that you are most likely shooting TOO much every day.
We all enjoy our sport and want to be great shots, but there is a limit to what the human body will take without screaming back at you.
Not only that, but as you develop pain during your shooting, you will not be doing your best and will start to develop bad habits to get around the pain.  Not a good thing...

[pseman]

I have not had problems with my shoulder from shooting too much but I have experienced finger numbness. This is worst when I shoot to many arrows at once. If I shoot groups of 5-6 arrows at a time, I start getting numb/sore fingers after a while. If I shoot 1-3 arrows at a time this is not a problem. Reducing the number of arrow per group forces you to rest more often because you are walking to retrieve your arrows.
 
I also notice that shooting more than 1-3 arrows at a time causes me to shoot too fast and my form suffers.

[Jimbob]

I think the bigger problem is that on those long shooting sessions is that your concentration gets burned out. Your form will start to get sloppy and thats when bad habits develop. I try to limit my training session to 20 minutes and only fire one arrow then go and retrive it. Doing this forces me to concentrate on each shot, and break the repetition that can cause rushed shots and short drawing. Take it easy for a few days and try to shoot again for a short period of time. Joint injuries are no fun.

[eagle24]

I don't go out and shoot nonstop for 2 hours.  I usually shoot about 30 minutes when I get home from work.  Maybe another 30 minutes after dinner and then sometimes I shoot inside for a while at night.  I never have over 5 arrows and often shoot with 1 arrow.  I'll have to admit, I have'nt been doing much warming up, but I'm shooting a 41# bow and it feels really light.  There is also a possibility that I have done something to my shoulder at work (lumberyard) although I can't really think of anything specific.

[T.J.]

Sounds like a rotator cuff to me to. I had the same problem. I would try 1 of or both of these. I dropped from a 55# to a 45# bow. Then I broke up how I shoot. I will only shoot 25 arrows or so and then quit and take a break. I'll do something else all together for 30 min or an hour. Then I'll come back and shoot 25 more arrows. It also helps in the fact when I come back to shoot it's like shooting a first shot all over again. Which is what we ultimatly need to be good at for hunting. But when I shoot I am slow and take my time. I don't launch 5 arrows in 60-90 seconds. I will shoot an arrow. Look at it, think about the shot, and relax 20 sec or so and then shoot another.

That was what really helped for me. Good luck with it!

T.j.

[Bard1]

Well, here is yet another shoulder pain topic.  

I am a Massage thereapist, not a Dr. and as such I can't diagnose.  I can asses however.  From the info you have given me here, I suspect that your suffering from some inflamation due to repetitive strain.  What that means is that your over using your shoulder.  I don't think it's just the shooting, but the combination of your work, shooting, and probably things your doing around the house.  In other words, yes your shooting to much.  
My profesional recomendations are this:
1. cut WAY back on the shooting. (at least for now)
2. Ice your shoulder for 20 min noon and at night.
3. Gently stretch before shooting AND work.
4. visit your Dr. to make sure it's not some thing worse. i.e. impingment or torn rotator cuff.
5. GET A MASSAGE.  If you need a recomendation, pm me and I should be able to find some one  in your area, or if your super rich, you can fly out here to Oregon and I'll work on ya. =D
Derek Wrigley. L.M.T.

[Shawn Leonard]

Yup, just had surgery by a great doctor. I had pain similar to yours. I had my bursa removed and 12 bone spurs plus a large chip taken out and a ton of arthritis also. It was not from shooting, it was an old injury that i let go. I had it done two weeks ago Friday and it feels better than it has in two years. Best advise yet is to visit a good orthopedic guy. Mine did an incredible job! Shawn

[VA Bowbender]

I had rotator cuff surgery too.  I'm going to go along with  oldgriz though on too much for too long a period.  It might just be  tendonitis, hopefully.  A little rest and you should feel better.

[eagle24]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.  I think the first thing I will do is discontinue shooting (started yesterday) and see if it clears up.  I sorta feel like it is just overworked and maybe with 4 or 5 days rest will be much better.  I can perform some movements without pain that make me believe it may not be my rotator, but I'm not completely sure.  If the rest does'nt make the pain go away I'll go see my doctor.  I've got a couple of hunting trips lined up this fall and I really need to baby it through hunting season if possible.  I know it's not worth risking more serious damage, but I can take the pain if it does'nt get any worse.

[Eric Krewson]

50 arrows every other day is enough. Make your practice about form and execution, not slinging hundreds of arrows. Sure is hard to quit when you are having fun though.

[Brian Krebs]

I shoot two arrows; then retrieve and shoot them again. My practice sessions last about an hour; but I shoot uphill and downhill etc. I would think that if your standing in the same position shooting at the same angle; for long time periods; something is going to give.
 A friend of mine mentioned that he had seen antropologists identifying bowhunters by their bones- so we CAN overdo it I guess.
  I broke my shoulder blade rolling down a mountain with a horse; and it took about 3 months before I could shoot accurately; and another month before my shot counted.
  Now I shoot less- I practice hunting shot situations; not so much target archery...

[KyGal]

Ditto all of the above. ANY physical activity requires rest periods. Your loss in draw wt. is directly related to not allowing your muscles and ligaments to recuperate. Among rock climbers one of the worst mistakes young people make is going too hard too fast, without allowing rest periods. We archers are using not just muscles, but the cartilage that anchors the muscles. Cartilage takes more time to build than muscle, so talented young climbers who climb steep overhanging routes often outpace their body's ability to strengthen cartilage, leading to shoulder trouble.

The archers in an archaeology dig are marked by calcification where the muscles of the shoulder attach to the shoulder blade. The English warbow guys also had DEFORMED their scapulas from the sheer force exerted by extreme draw weights. In older fellows the shoulder joint itself is arthritic.

[TRADITIONAL ONLY]

well back when i shot the evil bows (yeah last year) i shot every day about and hour or from the end of supper until dark, and i never was real good. my thoughts, cause one in a young guy and thats has somethin to do with my shootin. and two, cause i was shootin too much and not resting enough, i shot a 53 pound cheater bow without any problems but i was shaky on the first shot ad it just got worse as the season got closer. but after i quit shootin (cause bowseason came in) it stopped.
now when i shoot my recurve and i start shakin or my shootin goes to pieces (which it does all too often) i call it quits for the night. i dont ave to shoo 5,000 arrows a day, just 3 dozen or so or like i said until i get shaky a little. learn you limitations and stick to em.  

my 2 cents anyways...

[T-Mac]

After not shooting for about 20 years I picked it up again and glad I did. I also shoot every day that I can and that's just about every day. It didn't take me long to realize that every day didn't have to be several hours a day, just good consentration and form practice each time. The aches and pains that came with beginning a new were soon gone and I haven't had a problem since. Also I can see improvement all the time. It's how you shoot not how long you shoot that matters.

[draco]

As you get tired you may be letting your shoulder rise up slightly,getting it out of alignment for pushing. Get a good side picture of Howard Hill,notice the low shoulder and bent elbow. He never had joint problems shooting twice as much weight as you are. As long as your arm looks like his does in the picture you will have no problems. I`ts a part of good form that is never mentioned enough.