Pain in the shoulders (not the neck)

[Bertie]

This is probably because I have take up archery late in years, BUT, I am getting pain from the muscles below my shoulder joint and just under the armpit. One of the books I have read says that the shoulder joint has four little muscles called the 'rotator cuff muscles' which get inflamed causing 'shoulder impingement syndrome' The book 'Precision Archery' then goes on to relate some useful excercises - which as yet aren't helping. Anyone out there suffered from the same? and got any useful remedies? I love the sport and don't want to give it up. Thanks

[pyroarch57]

Bertie, do a search on the net, there`s lots of info about it.

[cecile]

You may have a tendinotis... Then, even the exercices you make may lead to something worse. I recommend that you first go and see a doctor...

Recovering may be accelerated by doing light stretching of the injured muscles.

While shooting try to adopt a form that limit the strain of those muscles to the minimum. Lower your shoulder and make perfect rotation of both shoulder and arm !

[clickerati]

Hi Bertie. You may want to try doing a search for shoulder pain on the forum. I spent two months out of archery this summer due to impingement syndrome, during which time I did no archery and went to a physio once a week plus doing excercises at home. Things have improved since, but I still have a bit of pain. I've wound my poundage way down while my shoulder heals. My rheumatologist suggested injecting the joint with cortisone.

What you need to do is see your GP who will assess whether or not it is impingement syndrome or something else. He or she can then refer you to a physio or rheumatologist.

You may want to read this thread or my journal which has quite a few entries about what I went through with my own injury.

Good luck and please take your injury seriously otherwise you may have to put your bow down for good.

[KevinH]

The rotator cuff exercises in Precision Archery are strengthening exercises aimed at helping prevent injury, it's probably not a good idea to use them if you are already experiancing pain.

Do as clicky recommends and get some professional medical advice.

[Cimbian]

Originally Posted by Bertie

This is probably because I have take up archery late in years, BUT, I am getting pain from the muscles below my shoulder joint and just under the armpit. One of the books I have read says that the shoulder joint has four little muscles called the 'rotator cuff muscles' which get inflamed causing 'shoulder impingement syndrome' The book 'Precision Archery' then goes on to relate some useful excercises - which as yet aren't helping. Anyone out there suffered from the same? and got any useful remedies? I love the sport and don't want to give it up. Thanks

Rest and keeping the joint mobile is what I am trying right now... I am not getting to shoot at all due to my drawing shoulder. Frustrating but I am trying to avoid long-term damage.

Hope it gets better soon.