Ilf bow for rehab from quad bypass surgery?

[Bob Stager]

I just got home yesterday from a quad bypass surgery. I’m not going to shoot a bow while I heal and was thinking about getting an Ilf riser and some light limbs to start with that I can increase poundage on as I go.  Anyone have any thoughts or experience with this?  Thanks. Bob Stager

[reddogge]

That will work. I started out with my grandkids' 20# Little Bear at half draw. Then graduated to a 30# Browning Spartan, then to 45# hunting weight. The only thing with ILF is the risers tend to be a little heavier and you'll find you can't hold a lot of weight out straight in the beginning. I believe you have to wait 10 weeks after surgery anyway before any pulling, lifting or strenuous activity to let the breastbone heal.

[Bob Stager]

They told me it would be 3 months before I can start doing anything. Maybe Father Time has something to do with this

[kat]

I did just that after shoulder surgery. After 3 months, I got an ILF riser with 30 lb. limbs, then 35# limbs, then 40#. It worked out well in my case.

[McDave]

Compare the cost of getting different limbs for an ILF riser with buying a lower weight bow, such as Samick, PSE, etc., either new or used.  You might be better off buying one or more lightweight bows as you rehab.  I took a friend of mine through this program after his bypass surgery.  Fortunately I have a number of lightweight bows since I teach classes and have grandchildren.  I started him on a 15# bow, then went to 25#, 35# at bi-weekly intervals.  First I had him just draw the 15# bow part way without shooting it, both right and left handed.  A few weeks ago he cut down a dying oak tree for me in my backyard and hauled away the wood, so his rehab program must be coming along pretty well!  Even without the classes, I’ve always found uses for lightweight bows when guests want to shoot.

[Doug_K]

Sage or ILF, either one you can get cheap limbs for. ILF gives you a little more adjustability if the limbs come in heavier or lighter than marked.

[Bob Stager]

Thanks for the input. I was thinking ILF only because you have some weight adjustment as you rehab

[sneakybow]

Perfectly good reason to buy a new bow.  You'll have greater adjustability with the ILF setup,  and plenty of wood riser ILF bows out now that aren't heavy.  The Sage is a pretty good option,  it'll work for what you want as well,  just limited to whatever limbs they offer for it (that are in stock). ILF is an almost unlimited number of combinations.  Lots to think about.

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[sneakybow]

A good friend of mine had that surgery last December.  He already had several ilf bows around and used those to rehab. He also took the time off from shooting to coach his granddaughter with her NASP.

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[Doug_K]

A note on the heavier ILF risers. If you're looking at target metal risers they are indeed much heavier, but there's plenty of makers that make shorter lighter risers. Morrison and Dryad both make risers around the 2# mark, as well as 17" TradTech risers, in laminate or aluminum. I just ordered a W&W black wolf, which is a carbon 17" riser at 1.6#.

[Bowguy67]

Don’t wanna derail your thread but I’m glad you’re ok and you’re head is still in it. I went through something similar last year. Best of luck

[reddogge]

As far as timing goes for me I was half drawing that Little Bear about 10 weeks. I was shooting the 30# Browning in 3 months and was back to 45# hunting bow by 7-8 months. As a starter bow our club owns a dozen PSE Polaris take downs about 15-20# which is plenty to start. You may have trouble finding ILF limbs that light. I was a bad boy and carried two crates of .30-06 ammo down to the basement before the 10 weeks was up. Wife gave me hell but she couldn't lift it. Anyone who hasn't had the pleasure of a bypass really will not fully understand what you are going through.

[Yooper-traveler]

I used light weight ILF limbs with my pre-existing riser to help rehab my elbow and neck after surgery this year.  The nice thing about the limbs is you can usually pick them up cheap and then re-sell once you’re done. I used two light weight sets to help get me back to my pre accident weight.

[Bob Stager]

Thanks for all of the advice guys. I never thought about a wood ILF riser but that could work  Thans again

[John Krause]

I had quad bypass a few years ago on Oct 22. I killed a small 6 pt buck on Dec 29. It was a 50 lb bow and I doubt I got it all the way back but it did the job.

I think you will come back a lot sooner that you think but don't push it. You will know when you are ready.

Good luck