arm -- shoulder surgery

[bowfanatik]

How many of you  had shoulder surgery and whether it caused by the bow

[YORNOC]

I had rotator done several years ago. NOT caused by the bow....actually the bow helped me recover.
I wanted to shoot again so badly, it inspired me to hammer away at physical therapy and I recovered way before everyone said I would.
I bought a very light draw bow and worked with it when the doc said I could.
I explained to the therapists what my archery goals were and once I was doing well enough, they tailored my therapy to those motions.
After healing from my surgery, I consider myself over bowed if I cant draw, anchor and hold at full draw for at least 15 seconds. That's a goal I set for myself, knowing my body and its limits.
It took awhile and a lot of patience, But I have built back up to being able to shoot 60# this way if needed. But I prefer 50-55.
When its really cold, I shoot 45# so I don't do any damage to my cold, tight, shivering shoulder.
It has been working great.

[Onions]

I also have had the rotator surgery years ago. Injury not caused by shooting a bow. Then last year, I reinjurred, the shoulder, after therapy for a month it was great, then I reinjurred it much worse. None of these injuries were shooting related.
Like YORNOC said, I too wanted to shoot badly so I worked very hard at the PT. Do everthing the PT tells you to do!!! Read that line again!
Now I only shoot 40lbs, comfortably, however I do shoot my 57lb row as well, but just not many arrows. I am confident that by next spring I will be back to heavier bow.


chris <><

[Bjorn]

I have had both sides done due to windsurfing. I did lots of therapy and waited 6 weeks before anything. I started to come back with an 18# bow. Did that for weeks, and then 35#, and gradually back up to higher poundages. Take your time and do lots of therapy. I still do the snow angels on the floor.