Is there a way to draw?

[buckeye_hunter]

I have dropped all the way down to shooting a 43 lb recurve because my elbow has been hurting.  I think I have developed tendonitis in my bow arm elbow.

Any ideas on how to draw differently that might reduce some of the stress on my bow arm elbow?

If not, I will have to start shooting a compound and I don't really want to do that. Nothing really wrong with them, I'm just not a big fan of that type of bow.    

Thanks,
Charlie

[Roy Stroh]

Just wear one of those support wraps for a for a while and don't shoot for a week or so.  I get tennis elbow from time to time from normal work, the brace works wonders.

[Pat B]

Charlie, I would suggest laying off shooting for a while and let the tendinitis heal. A bit of anti-inflammatory meds will help also. I developed tendinitis years ago working on RVs and trucks and that is the advise the doc gave me...and it worked out well for me. You will have plenty of time to get ready for hunting season, still. If you continue you may not even be able to pull a mechanical bow by hunting season.  Pat

[madness522]

If it hurts don't shoot!!!!  You may do more damage by shooting thru the pain than by not shooting and letting it heal properly.

[GingivitisKahn]

Yeah Charlie - take it easy, man.  Your body is hollering that it needs to heal a bit.

What does your doctor say?

[WidowEater]

switch hands, just shut your dominant eye while shooting wrong handed, works great, until depth perception enters the picture...

[AllenR]

Don't try switching to a compound.  I switched to recurves partly because of my tendonitis in the bow arm.  It took me over a year to heal because I wouldn't quit shooting.

There are also stretches that help.  

One friend used the strap, but unlike most, he pulled it as tight as he could.  It was almost to the point of pain.  He also didn't quit shooting because he owns a shop and has to tune bows to keep the money coming in.  

Good luck,
Allen

[Naphtali]

If, in fact you have tendonitis, and you do what your physician wants you to do to get rid of it, you might consider using a Winn Free Flight (or other) release aid that allows your wrist to accept the bow's draw weight while your draw arm automatically has rotated to minimize stress on your elbow and associated muscles.

[buckeye_hunter]

Interesting Naphtali, I might have to try that.


Per a physical therapists advice, I'm going to take it easy(no shooting), ice up, take some anti-inflamitories and lay off the weights at the gym.  Hopefully that will help and I can get back into shooting ok before season starts. I also got a strap to help hold the tendon in place.  We'll report back in a month or so.

Thanks,
Charlie

[just a bit outside]

switch to left handed and start collecting left handed bows too! The best of both worlds!!!