Elbow starting to hurt

[Karl Kortemeier]

I have starting up with my bow after a 10 year break.  I have been shooting 20 to 30 minutes a day for the past month, and my elbow is starting to hurt.  It is on the arm that holds the bow.  I do not have any string slap.  Is this just my body getting used to archery again, or is there a common mistake in form that would cause this?  Maybe I'm just getting old!

Thanks

[charlie phillips]

I have the same problem.Theres a brace you can get that will help.I know I'm getting old.


   TXCP

[reddogge]

In my case it was a bone spur.  It solved itself when I had a tractor accident 2 years ago and tore my elbow tendon.  The surgeon took care of the bone spur at the same time.  The bone spur did not respond to drugs, therapy at all before the accident though.  Very painful I may add.

[NBK]

Back of the elbow?  Sounds like a tendonitis and you'll only make it worse by doing more.  Ice is your best friend, 20 min on/ 20 min off as frequently as you can.  Add to this Ibuprofen 600mg 3Xday, (you could go 800mg for a total of 2400mg/day but that's your maximum daily dose and you probably don't need it.)  Don't shoot every day.  It's like lifting weights, you need to give your body time to recover.  Lastly, make sure you warm-up before shooting.  Wall push-ups is a good way to use the triceps without actually getting down to the floor.  Hope this helps.

[BobCo 1965]

Could be many things including items in your form, the tune of your bow or the bow itself.

First thing I'd do would be to stop shooting for a while a get it checked out. If you continue with the same duration, form and bow, it could get worse.

At one time I got a case of tennis elbow from a certain bow. No matter how I tried to tame the bow through tuning, grip position, form changes, etc. it still hurt.

What I did was go through some tennis elbow excercises (easily found on the web) and switched bows (sold the old one), and nock on wood, it did not come back. I also had a similar problem with the bow hand wrist with a particular bow, got rid of that one also.

[Karl Kortemeier]

Thanks for the info.  It gives me somewhere to start.

[bowbenderman]

Well, as for my elbow!  Doctor said, operation, I have put it off until deer season is over. Mine hurts the most when I release.  Doc said on the xray he could see a bone chip.  So my advise is to go to the dr. an have an xray. Also, found that the type grip on your bow makes a huge difference. Hope this helps.

[dtarbell]

Ive had the same thing for 5 months,dont think your going to shoot thru it as it will only get worse,I just got a cortisone shot in the elbow and it seems to be helping.

[Don Stokes]

I suggest trying a different bow. Some bows have enough "hand shock" to make your elbow hurt.

[Karl Kortemeier]

I have an old Bear Kodiak recurve.  I am not sure if the handshock is causing the problem or not.  I am taking a few days off from practicing to see if that helps.

Thanks

[Steelhead]

You said you were shooting 20-30 minutes every day.

I would shoot every other day for now and see if that doesnt help.Give it a go.Cant hurt and might help.10 years is a long time and since you have gotten older you may be more prone to inflamation in the elbow from shooting

If that doesnt do it you may visit the doc and get some professional advice.

You might try a lighter bow as well and if your bow has handshock and or elbow shock you might search for a tamer shooting model.

[Karl Kortemeier]

Thanks!

[Boom Stick]

Charlie, what's that brace you're talking about?

I get pain in my elbow too.

[buckeye_hunter]

For me it was the style of grip anf hand shock causing elbow pain in my bow arm. I can't shoot a standard longbow grip without elbow pain. I HAVE to shoot a more ergonomic grip like a recurve. I also get more elbow pain when I shoot a bow that has a lot of hand shock.

[dbean]

Same thing here.  The hospital called it "golfer's elbow".  Outside the elbow is tennis elbow'.  Inside the elbow is 'golfer's elbow'.  Steriod injections felt great for 3-4 weeks then it returned.  I narrowed it down to yanking arrows out of bales with my left arm as my right arm either had the glove or release on.

db

[Wishbone]

As has already been suggested, warm up before you start, and ice it after. I'd cut the practice time to about 10 mins for a while and see if it gets better. That is a long layoff- 10yrs.
good luck with it.