About to give up archery due to arthritis
J. Allan
about 4 years ago, shooting for pleasure and recreation only, with
friends and at a small local club.
However I am now having to consider giving up the sport due to
arthritis, mainly in my hands and to a lesser degree in my shoulders. I
shoot right-handed and unfortunately my right hand is worst affected -
possibly pulling the bow has aggravated matters.
I shoot recurve (Hoyt GM with Border limbs) and have 43 lbs. on my
fingers at full draw.
I have no wish to give up archery and would appreciate any advice that
anyone can offer - e.g. is using a release aid feasible with a recurve
bow at my weight and if so which one might suit best?
Any advice gratefully received.
Thank you.
--
Jim Allan
John Jones
You could but it's not ideal and you couldn't compete with
anyone! Try a compound bow - you can get them cheaply enough. I
had to switch to compound due to health problems, and bought a
s/h Merlin Omega (a top class bow) for 150 pounds.
--
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John Jones ja...@rhyolite.win-uk.net
Birmingham
England
____________________________________________________________________
Robert Smith
J. Allan wrote:
> However I am now having to consider giving up the sport due to
> arthritis, mainly in my hands and to a lesser degree in my shoulders. I
> shoot right-handed and unfortunately my right hand is worst affected -
> possibly pulling the bow has aggravated matters.
It might be worth taking medical advice here. One lady I met had been
specifically recommended archery by her doctor because she had arthritis in
the shoulders and the movement was felt to be beneficial.
> I shoot recurve (Hoyt GM with Border limbs) and have 43 lbs. on my
> fingers at full draw.
Maybe reduce your draw weight if you are having difficulties? FWIW my wife
has 36 lbs. on the fingers and can shoot comfortably at 100 yds with a
Yamaha recurve i.e. heavy poundages are not necessary. ( This is assuming
we are talking about shooting at targets rather than elephants etc. ).
Nick Ingram
In article <+7YkBFAQ...@baldinnie.demon.co.uk>, "J. Allan"
<j.a...@baldinnie.demon.co.uk> writes
>Although no longer in the full flush of youth I only took up archery
>about 4 years ago, shooting for pleasure and recreation only, with
>friends and at a small local club.
>
>arthritis, mainly in my hands and to a lesser degree in my shoulders. I
>shoot right-handed and unfortunately my right hand is worst affected -
>possibly pulling the bow has aggravated matters.
>
>fingers at full draw.
>
>anyone can offer - e.g. is using a release aid feasible with a recurve
>bow at my weight and if so which one might suit best?
>
>
>Thank you.
when I started I shot off my fingers but the strain was too much. so
after looking into all the alternatives I came up with the following.
I now shoot a hoyt alphatec compound with comand cams I only pull
about 50 pounds (quite low for a compound) I use a Fletchmatic release
aid with the delux strap so I pull the bow back with all of of my hand
and my wrist, I put a wrist support under the strap. I shoot acc's
3-28's the only diference was that because of the lower pondage I had
more trouble with the wind than most compounds so I put 125grain piles
in to counter this.
This is only a broad out line of what I have done but the end result
is I'm already a bowman class and I can still compete with anyone else.
If this information helps there is quite a lot more considerations to
take into account if you email me I will help all I can. you didn't say
which country you shoot in so I don't know how coumpund fares where you
are. The most important thing is if you get the equipment right there is
no reason why you can't achive as high a standard as anyone else in the
sport. good luck feel free to email me any time.
--
Nick Ingram
--
Nick Ingram
scbeagler
wheel breaks over. Oneida's lessen that a great deal but the drawing motion
is still uneven.
Compounds are more efficient with a given draw weight than recurves. A child
drawing 25 pounds can get 170 fps AMO.
To use a release aid you have to have a bow with the riser cut for center
shot. Otherwise the up and down motion of the arrow causes poor arrow
flight.
Wrist strap releases are hard on your wrist. They pull the carpals and
metacarpals apart. But at 25-45 pounds thats really not a problem.
Ronald W. Babcock
>
> Although no longer in the full flush of youth I only took up archery
> about 4 years ago, shooting for pleasure and recreation only, with
> friends and at a small local club.
>
> However I am now having to consider giving up the sport due to
> arthritis, mainly in my hands and to a lesser degree in my shoulders. I
> shoot right-handed and unfortunately my right hand is worst affected -
> possibly pulling the bow has aggravated matters.
>
> I shoot recurve (Hoyt GM with Border limbs) and have 43 lbs. on my
> fingers at full draw.
>
> I have no wish to give up archery and would appreciate any advice that
> anyone can offer - e.g. is using a release aid feasible with a recurve
> bow at my weight and if so which one might suit best?
>
> Any advice gratefully received.
>
> Thank you.
> Jim Allan
Jim,
Sorry to hear about your problems in the shoulders and hands. Let me
suggest a few things: First, arthritis literally means "joint
inflammation". In latin, "arth" is "joint" and "-itis" is
"inflammation". So technically a two year old can have arthritis when
they have an inflammed anke from twisting it. Fact is "arthritis" is a
term used very loosely by most medical professionals to describe any
type of musculoskeletal pain around or near a joint. In proper use, the
term should only be used when we know that there is joint destruction or
damage. An M.D. that specializes as a "rheumatologist" could tell you
if indeed this is the case.
Other natural forms of treatment include the use of a combination of
glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate. Usually about 500mg/ day
three times a day. These are readily available at a health food outlet
without a prescription. Don't expect results right aay though. It
usually takes 5-6 weeks of regular ingestion before a difference is
noted. This is the only thing currently thought to aid in the regrowth
of cartilage and has become somewhat of a rage in this country since the
book entitled "The Arthritis Cure". You can get it in the US for about
$10.
Other suggestions would be to get an evaluation of shooting form or to
see a physical therapist or orthopaedic doctor for evaluation to
determine if there is sime component of tendonitis or bursitis.
Hope that this helps....................Ronald W Babcock, P.T.
J. Allan
>I have no wish to give up archery and would appreciate any advice that
>anyone can offer - e.g. is using a release aid feasible with a recurve
>bow at my weight and if so which one might suit best?
>
>Any advice gratefully received.
Thanks to all who responded in the newsgroup and by email. Just for info
I've bought a release aid but have yet to try it.
Good shooting -
--
Jim Allan