Just a thought?

[Bowguy67]

Fellas always so many muscular issues arise. Everyone is always wanting to know what they can do at that point. My thoughts are instead of waiting on an injury why not stay ahead of it and exercise. You can work on supporting areas for shoulders, knees and back. Would we rather work out to stay good or work out to rehab something after perhaps surgery?
It’s good for us anyhow plus it’ll aid climbing a tree, walking a mountain, dragging a deer, carrying a pack, etc. Consider it.

[durp]

Spot on   

[GCook]

I work out every day.
Outside.

[Steelhead]

Preventions the best medicine!

[PrimitivePete]

I agree but will also add that I've paid express attention on how I mechanically execute the shot. My opinion is many are putting a great deal of stress on the shoulder simply by the method they draw the string back.

[Bowguy67]

I agree but will also add that I've paid express attention on how I mechanically execute the shot. My opinion is many are putting a great deal of stress on the shoulder simply by the method they draw the string back.

That’s a very good point. I always say bone on bone shooting and drawing back by pushing elbow back rather than pulling w bicep is key. Another really key element is having the bow arm shoulder in its socket. If fellas would learn those there’d be less injury. I’m 55 years old, had surgery just 5 years ago now where I had to learn even to swallow, couldnt get a 42lb bow back 1/2 back for a long time but I’m comfortable with bows in the 60s again. A lot is mechanics. Here’s where I might differ, when someone shoots a low poundage bow they can muscle it back. That’s actually not good. You’re forced to learn with heavier poundage cause you can’t do it without good technique. Another point only for consideration is just because someone has “always done it a certain way” or they’ve been at it 40 years, doesn’t mean they can’t better themselves and learn to do things more safely to their joints. Our minds should stay open to this as well as the strengthening support muscles.
That’s what rehab often does, works the surrounding area to strengthen. We need to be ahead of that. Things will happen, yes but we can minimize it imo

[M60gunner]

Up until a couple years ago I was (75 years old) I was into the staying fit for archery mode. I also believe it keeps those injuries that are blamed on archery, usually shooting heavy weight bows, to a minimum. But, heart issues have had me slow down my routine and it seems harder to make a comeback after a forced layoff. That and a syacita nerve that has me in pain and limits my walking, standing. But I can still shoot my 55# LB if I want. Although 45#’s is like 70#’s was at 60 years of age, easier.

[Sam McMichael]

 Bowguy, the only problem with your premise is that, no matter how right you are and no matter how old we get, in our own minds, we are still all 18 years old. Therefore, we are still invincible, right? How I wish I had realized a long time ago that "training" for archery should include more than just shooting the bow. Even now, I must admit, I don't train like I should, but your thought is a good one.

[PrimitivePete]

Bowguy you bring up a great point about the difference in what you can get away with, with a lower weight bow vs a heavier bow. I might be completely off my meds here but I have noticed over the last years the influx of what
I call Olympic/target shooting form being carried over to Trad hunting. For myself the logic that a form used with lower weight bows and shooting static targets does not translate equally to bowhunting game and the poundage we generally use. Do Target shooters use 55+ bows ? I don't think so, so how do I apply that methodology to my hunting rig? I believe it adds to the injury problem because guys are trying to shoot like target archers with +pound bows.