Weird shoulder pain??

[Timy]

So I recently got back into shooting, and I feel a strange pain in my bow hand shoulder(left shoulder)

I feel it as soon as I release, in the front portion of my left shoulder.  Let me preface by saying I am not over bowed.  I feel the same pain with either my 47lb longbow or my 65lb hybrid.

Side note I am a gymnast, and have ZERO shoulder problems doing things much more demanding on my shoulders so I am stumped.  Love to hear anyone else who could shed some light on this.

I only feel it at full draw and then right as I release, its not a muscle soreness, feels more like a ligament or tendon?

Thanks for any and all insight.

ps hope this is the right subforum for this

[AkDan]

sounds like possible rotator cuff.   there's 4 and depending on what one you damage will dictate when you feel it.   The only time I feel it is shooting.   Mine is partially torn and I had 0 surgery.  Today it doesnt hurt but if I shoot a ton I know it.  Its also in my left shoulder.  You may have it looked at, you may have done some damage by accident.

or it could be a simple spur or a host of other over use ailments.  

Lastly it could just be tension/lack of shooting.  Think of it this way.  You're compressing that shoulder until you build enough muscle up to not compress.   Its something you havent done for awhile (myself included to any degree).  Or a simple alignment issue.

  I'd post a video/pic of you're form on the shooting forum and see what comes of it.   I'd also consider seeing a doc.  If its a partial tear yo ucould make it worse which is a 6 month recovery!

[Timy]

Dan-  Thanks for getting back to me!

I had my gf take a few short videos of me shooting, im still new to these forums.  Where did you recommend I put them?

I appreciate the help, I thought it was a rotator cuff tear as well, but weighted pullups/dips dont bother it, heavy bench or rows no bother, handstand pushups and inverted pulls dont irritate it either.  Thats all 3 major ranges of motion with no impingement or pain.

Its just weird, I expected my drawing shoulder to be sore from jumping back in, but its the support shoulder.  Hmmm

[duncan idaho]

For what its worth: I am a part time fight trainer, and I see and deal with a lot of shoulder issues. From my observations and other fighters, one of the main culprits, is dips or weighted dips. Most use improper form and place too much pressure on the shoulder "ball" and not enough on the triceps. Since you are a gymnast, you know all about proper warm-ups, so, I am guessing its a form issue with one of your strength routines.

I have found it helpful to study the routines used by baseball players, since they have so many shoulder and roto problems.

a useful resource on exploring training advise for shoulder and roto problems is :  www.tnation.com

[Todd Cook]

I'm going to try to explain this but it's hard to do with words:Some people over extend their shoulder when drawing a bow. By that I mean they lock out their elbow and the anterior deltoid ends up under their chin, or closer to it than it should be. In effect this is putting rotational torque on the whole shoulder joint. The shoulder is loosely supported ( its not a deep ball and socket joint like the hip). If you could find some old photos or film clips of Howard Hill you will see that he keeps his shoulder lower and relaxed. This takes much of the pressure off the joint. He shot heavy bows for many years, and I'm sure that was a big reason he was able to.

Just food for thought. That may not be your problem. If you do have a partial tear, it likely wont heal on it's own. You might want to get it looked at. Good luck!

[Craig]

Best answer is let your doctor figure it out. Would you ask your doctor what size arrows shoot out of your bow?

[Safari Scott]

The best way to test is not with a pushing or pulling option - but to hold your arm out straight with your palm facing to the floor. Use your other arm to hold pressure on it and try to lift the sore arm. If you get pain it's normally your rotator.

[njloco]

While it may be prudent to see your doc, he is going to want to pump it up with cortisone. It is more than likely just a form issue, I know because I have the same thing. I think it's caused from the recoil of the bow after release. Try holding the bow at different levels of tightness in the hand, and make sure you are doing a push pull release, you may be holding the bow too tight and absorbing too much of the recoil from the limbs.

We are all made a little different, and the above amy or may not be your problem, but I do think it's a form issue.

Good luck, and let us know what you find out.

P.S. What Todd Cook says above, makes a lot of sense also and should be looked into.

[joe skipp]

If it was rotator cuff, it would hurt when drawing the bow, not holding it out. When I started shooting left handed, my right shoulder never bothered me holding it out, couldn't draw right handed.

After weeks of PT, and learning, could be your deltoid. Locking that arm out, putting too much pressure on the shoulder. Stay away from cortisone, it's a temporary fix. Try bending the elbow slightly to relieve some of the pressure your putting on the shoulder.

[FerretWYO]

Please contact your Doctor for these type issues.