Am I Overbowed? (or is it arthritis?)

[JPNTN]

Got a bow last Saturday to try out for a couple of weeks, 52" 55#@28 but 48#@ my 26" draw per the bowyer's scale.  I have shot it over the past couple of days and have "worked into" it.  It pulls much easier than my 64" Montana (55@28 but ~47@26) b/c of the limb design. Now that I've shot it for a few days, it feels really good and I can honestly say that enjoy shooting it.  The grip is very comfortable and feels natural.  The higher poundage lets me have a cleaner release than the other lower poundage bow I tried out (though I'm sure with some work on my form that could be fixed).  So there are a lot of pluses.

So here's the dilemma:  My shoulder and elbow are still very sore.  Is it killing me?  Hard to say.  Ibuprofen helps a lot    .  Could it be I'm just outta shape?  Very possibly.  The soreness just doesn't go away. I'm just concerned that, if I continue to shoot this bow, though I enjoy it when shooting, my shoulder, etc. may not adjust and I may do more harm than good.  I'd like to be able to shoot 30 years from now.  Not sure if it'd be better to go to the lower weight bow, or even ask if he could shave about 5 lbs off of this one (which would doubtless cost a little more).  So am I overbowed or getting old?  :confused:

[ron w]

The poundage at your draw isn't that much of a difference. Did your Montana bother you? Does your new bow have more hand shock. If your shoulder and elbow bothered you before the switch, you might be overbowed. Also ,how much are you shooting? You may have to reduce your shooting time a bit to be able to keep going. If you push yourself thru the pain you may develope bad habits that ruin your form and take a long time to fix. Do it right and it will be with you for ever,learn it wrong and it will take forever to fix it!!!!!

[Paul Mattson]

I have had tendonitis in both elbows so bad that I could not even pick up a coffe mug.  When it got this bad I went to the doc and got a cortizone shot.  I had to get 2 shots a month apart this last time in my right elbow (I shoot left).  It finally worked, no more pain but I have not tried shooting yet, it's been about 2 wks now.

Rest up and don't shoot and see what happens.  If it does not get better go see a doc.

[Zradix]

If it's REALLY bothersome SEE a DOCTOR!!!!!

I got a new bow once and started shooting it. I had been shooting my old bow daily. cept this one was NEW (new to me at least). And I shot the dickens out of it......2 days later OUCH!!
Sore shoulder.. really sore. Took 2 months laying off shooting to heal.

I figure same type of thing come happen to your elbow.

I've read the most "destructive" force of a bow to its shooter (not talkin blown limbs here) is The VIBRATION. Those vibes just after the compression in your bow arm try to tear you apart.
If this new bow of yours has more vibes than the old one it may well be the root of the problem.

Good luck. Take care of yourself

[ksbowman]

Unless you are a very small man a 48# bow shouldn't be a problem. Maybe as stated above you have just jumped in to alot of shooting all at once. Are you in good physical shape or don't do much physical work? If you have really hit the bow hard for the last two weeks you may have just over done it for the shape you're in.

[Raging Water]

I have lifted weights pretty much all my life. At my age, I have to lift "heavy" every so often or I back track in strength. For example, I bounce around between 275# and 315# in bench press (I am not Marlon Torres). Sometimes, I go up to over 350# to shock the muscles. The concept is called "Neuro Muscular Overload". But, I warm up properly and use good form. Thus, no injuries.

I like to use a bow heavier than I would normally shoot to either build strength or keep the strength I already have. If I shoot the bow too much, I get a little sore. However, afterwords my other bows seem light.

If may suggest, warm up with your regular bow, then shoot a bit with the heavier bow, and then go back down. That should keep you strong and un-injured.

[Butkus]

I can't diagnose the problem but I can certainly offer some good advice since it works for me, especially at my age.
1. Warm up good before shooting. I use the 4" wide X 5' long latex stretch bands avaiable at sporting goods stores. These bands are also good for rehab for an existing injury. Just wrap around hands and pull like drawing a bow. They should be much lighter than your draw weight for rehab or warm up.
2. I use the stretch bands several times a day, every day to stay in shape. You can take them anywhere easily. Double them for strength building.
3. When shooting, don't overdo it! Quit while you're ahead so you can shoot tomorrow. You already know that quality not quantity is what's important.
4. Bow arm shoulder problem: I have to bend some at the elbow to keep stress off my shoulder. It does not affect accuracy.
Good Luck!

[longbowman]

I agree with Raging Water.  While it would take my son and I together to even lift 350# we both shoot hundreds of arrows off of 80#+ bows.  I don't think it's the weight but rather the method of warm up and strength building.

[Pat B.]

Sounds like you know the answer ---.

[SpencerL]

I tend to get tendonitis in my elbows if I spend too much time using a mouse on the computer, so I know that I’m susceptible. I started to get a pain in my bow arm elbow that felt just tendonitis when I moved up in bow weight. After I followed Asbell’s advice in locking my shoulder it went away though. That much less tension in my arm reduced the stress.

[wharvey]

Ron W could be spot on with his comment about bow shock. I have a wheel bow that a rarely shoot because my arms and right shoulder, I shoot left handed, are always soar after shooting. (Besides it not being as much fun.) It draws less than my Hatfield at any point in its draw but I think that the jerky motion causes the problems. I can shoot over a hundred rounds with the Hatfield without any after pain but 20 with the wheel bow will put me in pain for several days.

[Friend]

With anthing, we must exercise some type of moderation including your favorite activities. Listen to your body and allow yourself time to heal.

Start back slowly and if this bow continues to bother you and your other does not, then find what you are looking for in another bow.

You do want to enjoy shooting 30 years from now.

*Remember to listen to your body

[Shakes.602]

I Aree with  ALL  of the Advice Above, but just have One More Thing to Add:  ICE .    
               Good Luck!!      

[JPNTN]

Thanks guys for chiming in. I'm convinced of the verse from the Proverbs that "in a mulititude of counsellors there is safety" so I appreciate the voices of experience.

I guess I should have answered ronw's question earlier about specifics with the new bow earlier but will try to now.  I'm right handed/eyed, so the soreness is on the (R) side (shoulder and elbow).  I was a little sore with the Montana but not like I am now.  The new bow is 16" shorter so I am working the limbs a little more on the smaller one.  Also, I'm actually drawing 1# higher on the newer bow.  The new bow has no handshock as opposed to really a little with the Montana.  As far as amount of shooting, I try to shoot a few groups of 3 at a time since I've mainly been working on form with the new bow.  My boy and I shoot together, so it's not like I'm rapid-firing the arrows one after another.  Generally we also shoot some homemade disc targets, taking turns like before (he'll shoot 3 that I throw, then vice versa).  So there is some time between shots that my muscles, joints, etc., are not under a constant strain.  Perhaps warming up with the old bow may not be a bad idea.  Any other suggestions or advice?

[JPNTN]

Originally posted by SpencerL:
I tend to get tendonitis in my elbows if I spend too much time using a mouse on the computer, so I know that I’m susceptible. I started to get a pain in my bow arm elbow that felt just tendonitis when I moved up in bow weight. After I followed Asbell’s advice in locking my shoulder it went away though. That much less tension in my arm reduced the stress.

SpencerL,  could you explain the Asbell method you mentioned?  Not familiar with it but want to give it a try.  Thanks.

[sagebrush]

If it hurts when you are shooting your body is trying to tell you something. I went through a hard time with tendonitis in the bicep from shooting a longbow that my body didn't like. (Probably my form) I didn't give up. I ended up spending five years trying to get over it and shoot at the same time. Now when it hurts I quit or change my hand position on the bow and see if that helps. Gary

[Bill Carlsen]

The trouble with aches and pains is that the kind of pain you are talking about could be your neck and not your shoulder. Many pains originate in some other part of the body than where you feel it. Lots of guys with back problems will tell you they can tell when their backs are "out" when they feel pain in their feet, calves, butt, etc. The only way to find out what is causing your pain is to have it properly diagnosed and then listen to the doc and therapists. If it is your shoulder it could be tendonitis, bursitis, bone spurs, or muscle weakness. Not even an MD could tell you what your problem is from your description here and an ethical one wouldn't even attempt a diagnosis. You owe it to yourself to see the doc if you really want to keep on shooting or just to live pain free. It is best to take care of it sooner rather than later.