Listen to your body, as it knows best

[Bowjunkie]

I'm working my way back UP in draw weight. I was shooting 70 lbs daily, and 85 lbs accurately on occasion until I got Lyme in the fall of '11. I couldn't even STRING a bow for over a year, heck I couldn't lift a half gallon of milk with one hand, could barely dress myself, and had to sit out bow season for the first time in 30 years.

For me it's not about ego, it's about a return to health and vigor from a place of unrelenting pain and debilitation. Clearing the 70 lb hurdle will be a major physical and psychological benchmark in my recovery.

For now I'm on a slow rebound, started shooting an arrow or two a couple months ago, occasional strength training as the pain permits, and now I'm back up to 60 lbs and still climbing. As things improve, I can work harder and shoot more often and more weight. I was really messed up and pathetically weak from being layed up for over a year, almost bed-ridden for a while. But honestly, considering my circumstances, as easy and quick as it was for me to get back up to 60 lbs, it's hard to imagine a healthy grown man unable to shoot over 50 pounds well if he elected to. I've got a relatively physical job though compared to some folks I suppose. I don't know... I guess it doesn't matter. I'd rather my hunting companions shoot what they can accurately so our bloodtrails are short and productive. A 40 lb bow will kill any deer dead. Heck, I remember a neighbor kid killed a deer with a 25 lb solid fiberglass bow back in the day.

Me, I like the challenge of shooting moderately heavy bows well and I intend to soon be shooting in excess of 70 pounds and am building myself a 70-75 lb yew English longbow for the occasion  

Shoot whatcha brung!

[zarch]

iguess im in the same boat bad accident 4 years ago rear ended 65 miles an hour had to fuse 3 discs together in neck took along time to work up to 50 lb maybe im thick headed but NEVER GIVE UP THE FIGHT

[bobman]

Originally posted by stalkin4elk:
Lots of jobs as well as sedentary lifestyles that are harder on the body than heavy bows IMHO.
It takes humility and loss of ego to get in shape and stay in shape regardless of your archery preferences.          

Yep its not heavy bows its a lack of discipline to keep strong with exercise that causes injury, every sport requires fitness and strength training to excel in and that means more than just shooting your bow.

I love bows in the 70Lb range and have been shooting them all my life without any hint of injury, but have to sell mine now because of a bad heart valve I was born with causing an aneurism. Really depressed about that.

[pcg]

And even when your body has gotten to "bone against bone," with careful rehab--might take up to a year of exercises--it can come back, w/o surgery, and sometimes stronger than in the past. But admittedly it takes discipline and dedication when you're post-50, whereas it came easily when you were younger. That said, I know men in their 60s and 70s who are far stronger than when they were 30 yrs younger. They lost weight, eat clean and substitute daily exercise for TV. Don't discount your ability to pull it all together again, however you want to use strength.

[joe skipp]

When I started hunting out West I shot 60#...why? Because everyone promoted heavier bows for the larger game animals.

Wasn't long before little problems began with the elbow/shoulder/neck. I dropped to 56# and those problems disappeared. The older I got, I find 55# worked just fine on all those animals.

Here in the northeast, on those really cold mornings, I'm not struggling pulling back a heavy bow, 52# and 55# work perfect. When shooting a heavy bow becomes uncomfortable and problems arise  with your body, time to drop down to a more comfortable weight.

[moththerlode]

I like lighter wt. And for my age I'm in better shape than most thanks to much time in the gym and eating clean. But those worn Joints and the arthritis in the back are hard t o overcome even when the strength is there. I was told a long time ago that there was a piper to pay. And now I understand that.

[awbowman]

Coaster has it right, your joints is what you are conserving when you lower the stresses by shooting lower poundage.  Besides you simply don't need higher poundage.

[moththerlode]

I like lighter wt. And for my age I'm in better shape than most thanks to much time in the gym and eating clean. But those worn Joints and the arthritis in the back are hard t o overcome even when the strength is there. I was told a long time ago that there was a piper to pay. And now I understand that.

[legends1]

I here ya! Ever 5years or so I seem to drop bow weight. Ive had shoulder issues I have  been trying to deal with. Just last week built me a set of 40# limbs and put the 51# away until September elk camp. Ill tell you this those 40# limbs sure make shooting a pleaser again. Ill be shooting them next week a the IBO World Championship.

[arrow flynn]

Pain is weakness leaving the body.

[Knawbone]

My body told me to stick to 50 lbs or less, if I want to shoot more. My new Hill will be 46 to 48 lbs.

[treehermit]

Something to consider is repetitive motion.  I've had a shoulder repaired and this was the cause (as it was explained to me).  Bone rubbing tendons.  The Dr. explained how it can be very similar to an injury a baseball pitcher might encounter.

[Bladepeek]

I agree with pcg in principle. There is a video floating around of an 86-yr old woman on the parallel bars and doing a gymnastic floor routine.

At the same time, I have to accept the fact that I will never be doing that. I just had my right knee replaced last year and the surgeon tells me the pain in my left knee is not a torn cartilage as I thought, but more bone on bone. We had our 6-yr old granddaughter staying with us for a week and we took her to the playground. She was swinging like a monkey on the horizontal ladder and my wife asked me if I could do that. Told her I used to and jumped up and grabbed the rungs. The minute my full weight came onto my right arm I felt it go "rip". I don't think the tear is bad enough to need surgery, but it's going to be a couple of weeks healing for that rotator cuff. I'm working it gently just holding my light longbow and circling it slowly around. I can almost get my arm to horizontal now. Doing the "double i treatment (ibuprofen and ice)    

Had I listened to my body instead of my ego, I'd be out shooting my bow today.

A sadder but (maybe) wiser 72-yr old.

[halfseminole]

I think it's all down to our bodies.  My great-grandfather is still out with his 95-pound draw compound (and bare feet) hunting to this day.  Pop doesn't even wear glasses.  But I have a severe genetic disorder and what I can pull will always be limited by it.  It's like the thread title says.  Listen to your body.  It knows better than your head sometimes.