Back injury and bow stringing

[Ghost Dog]

I recently injured my lower back. I was able to trace the injury to the push/pull method that I use to string my bows. The injury was severe; nerve damage, displaced disk and searing pain. I missed two weeks of work and made several trips to the doctor.

I have always known that the push/pull method was terrible from a phisiological stand point. It puts the hips and spine in a strained position that is perfect for damaging the lower back. I just used it one too many times and paid the price. I am fine now.

I have always had stringers around, so that is what I am using now. The best stringer I know of is offered by Thunderhorn bows. It can be used on longbows and recuves, and because of the clever design, it does not use a cup to hold the upper limb tip, so it allows for use on bows with short tips. It will never slip off the tip because of it's design. If you have ever had a stringer come off the upper limb tip while string a bow you know what a shock that can be. Look it up on the Thunderhorn website.

Looking out for my trad family.

[Eric Krewson]

I feel your pain Bob. On my last bad back excursion(I have fallen out of one too many trees) I couldn't string my bow with the step through method so I filed a stringing grove above my nock. I used my tillering string over the bow string in the bottom nock and in the tillering groove to get my bow strung. No chance of my make shift stringer sliding off the bow.

 

[Ghost Dog]

ttt

[Shaun]

I am in the midst of a chiropractic reseting of my lower back (pelvis and 4L) and never thought about push pull having an effect. Is it always a strain on the lower back or is it a matter of proper form? How about the step through method? I don't think step through would harm a solid self bow. I hate to rely on stringers all the time, but don't want to be a gimp either.

[Eric Krewson]

Step through won't hurt a selfbow.

[Ghost Dog]

Hey Shaun,

         Yes, both methods put a lot of stress on the lower to mid back.

         On and off over the years I have had low level pain or stiffness in the area that was involved recently. I thought it was our bed. It would come and go, and I didn't link it to stringing a bow. Now I know. Boy howdy.

         With my extensive background in fitness, strength training and sports related injuries, I knew better than to keep using the push/pull method, but it was just so easy and simple to do. Now my back feels fantastic, and using a stringer seems like the best thing ever, even if it does take a few extra steps to string a bow.

[Shaun]

I would think step through would put less strain on the back, but I will get out the stringers and start doing it right. When I first learned the push pull method I could tell there was weird strain on side muscles, especially when releasing the pressure after the string is in the nock.

Maybe time to start paying more attention. Like the reminder at the end of a Tai Chi set - the open hand covers the fist - "wisdom over strength".

[Swanny in MD]

I've had a history of severe lower back issues in the L4L5 area since 1991...fell 20' out of a tree, water skiing via teeth on a cold day...etc. etc. etc...general stupidity.

Every morning for the past 16 years right after getting out of bed I do my stretch and exercise routine for 20 to 30 minutes.  Part of the routine is taking my longbow and putting it behind my head draped across my shoulders with both arms draped on the limbs. Slowly twist to right as far as possible and hold for 5 seconds...repeat opposite direction.  

This is a great warmup for the push-pull stringing method.  One should be able to flex 20 to 40 degrees beyond 360 both ways.  

I've avoided the dreaded back surgery...still fortunate and blessed to be able to lay block and do the dreaded home-improvement work for the past 20 years.  

Finally, one can easily and safely do the PP stringing method by lying on their back on the floor.  Just as easy for me, but I don't have to...just yet.  

Sorry to hear about your troubles, Bob.