How to "shoot in" a bow when you cannot shoot?

[JW_Halverson]

While I have never really enjoyed shooting the bows I make, I used to be able to force myself to take a finished bow to the range a few times and shoot it for at least a few hundred shots. But now my left shoulder is out of the game and I cannot even pull the 20# lb kids bow I finished up.

Can you replace actual shooting where the string is released and the limbs work against the load bearing arrow with just exercising on the tiller tree?

[Pat B]

John, I think shooting a bow is the only way to shoot one in. There are things you can do that will help without actual shooting. Exercising on the tiller tree, gradually out to full draw is one. Sweating the bow, leaving it braced for periods of time, starting with an hour and gradually extending that time to as much as 6 hours over a few days. Both of these things help to educate the bow to bend and recover and let you know that the bow can be braced for a while, like while hunting, with minimal loss of energy. I think the only difference is the effects your bow hand has while shooting.

[bassman211]

We will all be there some day. It is just a fact of life. I feel for you. I shot 55 bows most all of my life. Now I am down to 25 to 35 lb bows. Not from muscle strength, but from bone joints. What Pat said.

[Del the cat]

We will all be there some day. It is just a fact of life. I feel for you. I shot 55 bows most all of my life. Now I am down to 25 to 35 lb bows. Not from muscle strength, but from bone joints. What Pat said.

Yeah, I had a lot of elbow trouble. A while back I found I couldn't even do one push up 
Gradually got back to doing 12 but with my knees on the floor. A good thick neoprene elbow support helps while shooting.
I really wanted to use my flight bow to push out my PB.
Its hard work keeping even passably fit. 
Keep on keepin' on guys.
Del

[bjrogg]

I hope you can get shooting again JW

A little over ten years ago my shoulder was killing me. I couldn’t work with my arms above my shoulders.

I had to go to physical therapy first, before any surgery or treatment.

My therapist said he was sure I had a torn rotator cuff and that the other muscles would take over if I trained them.

He had me do several exercises and then gradually some more. I wasn’t really expecting much but my shoulder is good.

I went for my back about a year and half ago. It’s helped and I have gotten back in better shape, but my back still hurts.

I definitely would recommend physical therapy if you haven’t already tried it.

Bjrogg

[JW_Halverson]

I hope you can get shooting again JW

A little over ten years ago my shoulder was killing me. I couldn’t work with my arms above my shoulders.

I had to go to physical therapy first, before any surgery or treatment.

My therapist said he was sure I had a torn rotator cuff and that the other muscles would take over if I trained them.

He had me do several exercises and then gradually some more. I wasn’t really expecting much but my shoulder is good.

I went for my back about a year and half ago. It’s helped and I have gotten back in better shape, but my back still hurts.

I definitely would recommend physical therapy if you haven’t already tried it.

Bjrogg

Docs ran me through a battery of push-pull tests and range of motion and said I have no rotator cuff damage. He did send me to physical therapy for my lower back and I talked the therapist into exercising the shoulder. But it just keeps getting worse.

I might have to demand an MRI to look at the soft tissues and figure out what this is. At this point, just getting dressed has become incredibly painful.

[bentstick54]

My wife and Ihave decided you really have to advocate for yourself now days. Too many doctors just pass things off as “ you’re just getting older”. Don’t be afraid to insist on a MRI if it just keeps gett Ing worse like you said.

[mmattockx]

Its hard work keeping even passably fit. 

This is a warning to all of us. No one is getting any younger and it is far easier to build your strength and mobility when younger and then maintain it into older age than it is to build it when already older. Some time spent earlier in life is an excellent investment in long term fitness. No matter your age, the time to start is now and stay on it.

People think strength training and weight lifting is for the young, but the greatest benefits of it are for the old as it keeps you going and able to live independently and do the things you want.


Mark