Tennis elbow and archery

[Ian Turner]

Hi all been getting a lot of grief from my right elbow (right hand shooter) and was told today that i have the proverbial tennis elbow.
Does anyone else out there in trad or other for that matter world have tennis elbow and ewhat do you do for it and how does it effect your shooting?
Cheers

[little arrows]

yep two cortisone injections direct into the site - the pain of the injection is a lot greater than the pain of the injury. I waited and had it done over the quieter time of the year, plus I wore the tennis elbow brace, it goes below the elbow and supports it. I still carry the brace, however haven't need it for years. Plus keep it warm in winter.
I know the naysayers are going to say all the reasons why I shouldn't have had them, my decision.
No consequences to date and that was many many many many many moons ago. I still shooting that the most important thing.

cheers
sue

[Ian Turner]

Hi Susie i have been wondering about cortisone injections: had one in a heel spur about 25years ago with no issues to date.
Cheers

[Kendaric]

The cortisone injections are so much better nowadays, they mix anesthetic with it. A couple of shots of cortisone will only be beneficial, it is the repeated use of it that may cause problems. I had injections into the shoulder a few years ago caused by an old injury (not archery related). The injections were painless, but half an hour later it hurt, but was manageable.

Give your archery a break for several weeks (unpleasant I know), to give your elbow and chance to recover. When you go back to shooting, take it easy, and very important, try shooting if possible with a much lighter bow for a while. If you have anyone who knows about shooting style, get them to watch you shoot, to see if there is something that may be causing excessive strain on you elbow.

[Ian Turner]

Hi mate thanks for the reply.
I am desperate to shoot at Wisemans Ferry in 3 weeks time so I am now on the hunt for a bow in the 30 - 35# ilk.
I wonder if Rob will let me shoot in the ladies or the cub's divisions.
Then again they will probably outshoot me and put me to shame!
Cheers
Ian

[Kendaric]

You might be surprised how well you can shoot with a 30-35# bow over trad distances. Consider dropping your point weight to 100 or 75 grains for a flatter trajectory. The longer distances may require you to work a bit harder to work out the cast, but at this lighter poundage you can take the time a bit more, at full draw, to do so. My father always said that competitions are won at close range. I have found this to be fairly accurate under most circumstances.

If you are ever working on style development, or changing an aspect of your style, it is always a great idea to drop the poundage to avoid injury. Even if you regularly and effortless shoot 55#, changing an aspect of your style can induce injury. The muscles get very use to working in a particular way. Dropping poundage by 10-15# at least is always a good idea during this period.

Back in the 70's, it was not so uncommon to hunt with a 36# recurve, even on pigs - but these guys could really hunt, and wouldn't execute a shoot if it was over 15 yards, and knew that they could place the shot well. Much of this has gone by the wayside for multiple reasons.

On a related side note - I read an interesting article from an Australian Pain Specialist who regularly deal with the management of pain for clients. He regularly dealt with pain at the source - the nerves.

His analogy appeared to be that often after injury and concequent recovery, the nerves involved, often became 'over sensitive', even after the area was healed. It was not just the nerves alone, but how the brain conditioned itself to look for these signals. Often doctors operated on these areas afterwards, not understanding these causes, and did more damage than good.

[Roadie]

Hi Ian, as you may know I have a shattered left knee, and of late I have torn muscle and sinew from my left hip also.
I have been seeing a Myotherapy Clinic and they have been fantastic for me. Using electric current pads and a form of acupuncture (dry needle). I feel good can walk with the aid of walking sticks, and I will be at this years Wisemans Trad shoot, so hopefully see you there
This has worked for me, it may not work for you, just a thought. Cheers Roadie..

[rodlonq]

Ian, I have been using one of these for a couple of years now. Without it I can't bear the pain in my left elbow (right handed shooter) after more the half a dozen shots. With it I can shoot a full target round without too much pain at all.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/FUTURO-2-PAC ... 2268209684

Cheers... Rod

[Ian Turner]

Hi Rod, Kendaric, Roadie,
Will take a trip to ozziepharm up the road from here and see if I can grab one and in the meantime look for a 30 - 35#bow.
Mate I certainly take on board what you have said about a lighter bow.

Grant bloody hell mate you sound worse than me!
Hope to catch up with you at Robs.
Cheers
Ian

[little arrows]

Steve currently has a dislocated forefinger, as the glove got caught between the shaft the size guage and the lathe chuck, so his right hand index finger was almost wrapped completely around the arrow he was sanding.............. ouch. So he's having a bit of trouble drawing and shooting his new bow............ I can see a group of infirmed archers at Wisemans.

You may have to learn how to use the back muscles more, aside from it being bent, I do not use my elbow to draw at all, you feel the muscle working, yes, however it doesn't hurt to shoot. It can sometimes "ache" if I've done too much. That discomfort can be dulled by other medicinal aids. There is also the possibility that some cope with certain pain better than others. Bit like shooting a bow, what works for me may not work for you.

How's about we work on your drawing "technique", which is the most unique I think I've ever seen, at Wisemans heh.

cheers
sue

[Ian Turner]

Hey Susie you aint the lone ranger when it comes to "interesting or otherwise" shooting technique; so hey yeah lets.
Will Steve be able to shoot it sounds like he has had a rather nasty experience with the lathe.
Cheers and thanks
Ian
PS What day do you guys figure on getting there
PPS How do you go ground clearance wise at Robs with the ute as from memory its fairly low.
Reason i ask is i will probably have to drive the XRF6 to Robs and with its low profile tyres its fairly low.
When i say low profile they are the standard 245 x 40's that Ford puts on the XR.
cHEERS
ian

[Kendaric]

You may have to learn how to use the back muscles more, aside from it being bent, I do not use my elbow to draw at all,
cheers
sue

Sue hit the nail right on the head here.

Drawing technique is paramount for correct skeletal alignment to reduce the stress on muscles and tendons.

Check out this link for correct bio-mechanics of the shooting cycle: http://www.kslinternationalarchery.com/ ... glish.html

Whilst it is aimed more at target archers, it can be adapted to field/hunting very easily. Don't be put off because it is aimed at target (not a deliberate pun), but these professional competition shooters shoot 300 arrows all day every day, so they have to be very careful about reducing injury.

[little arrows]

Hi Kendaric,
Sometimes it just pays to mention the little things we take for granted.

Ian,
Yep the ute gets in fine - just choose your drive line before you drive. I've doged bigger potholes on the highway. Plus Rob drives his ute around the property too.
cheers
sue

[perry]

I still suffer from Tennis Elbow in my Left Elbow, Right Handed Archer. I dropped Bow Weight and worked on a Swing Draw instead of my old Stand and Deliver Form It turned out my Tennis Elbow is exasperated by a T4 / T5 Vertebra Injury. I have had a lot of Cortizone over the Years with no ill effect's and also little benefit. I found the following exercises helpful and they reduced Pain http://blog.performancehealthacademy.co ... nis-elbow/ . I also developed Injury's that are far more painful so I don't pay much attention to my Tennis Elbow now day's

regards Perry

[Ian Turner]

Hi Perry,
Yeah i know where you are coming from i have a list of injuries as long as your arm too: it too becomes a matter of which is giving me more grief than the others at any one particular time
Shame to hear the cortisone hasnt done much for you i was getting rather interested in it.
Thanks for the link too.
Cheers
IAN
PS I have learned that its amazing how many times in a day onde bumps ones elbow on things.
Prior to the TE never thought about it now with TE i really really know i have bumped it.
Cheers

[BillieGates]

yep two cortisone injections direct into the site - the pain of the injection is a lot greater than the pain of the injury. Honestly thebest traditional strings can be found on this site but you should try looking around a bit. I waited and had it done over the quieter time of the year, plus I wore the tennis elbow brace, it goes below the elbow and supports it. I still carry the brace, however haven't need it for years. Plus keep it warm in winter.
I know the naysayers are going to say all the reasons why I shouldn't have had them, my decision.
No consequences to date and that was many many many many many moons ago. I still shooting that the most important thing.

cheers
sue

This is what I see works. Been shooting for 26 years and nothing works better

cheers

-Bill