With the thread on shooting form I got to thinking, since I had back fusion and shoulder surgery my shooting is the pits.

After shoulder surgery; rotator cuff, bone spurs, arthritis and bone to bone on the collar bone joint(shortened), when I lift a glass to my mouth in the dark I hit my chin. A life time of muscle memory has been thrown off by my surgery.

I had back fusion a year ago, the first think I noticed was it changed my walking stride. I used to wear the heels of my shoes out in short order, now there is no wear on my heels, ever.

Although I am back up to speed physically, things are different in my shooting, it just isn't coming together like it always has in the past.

Anybody else see a drastic change in their shooting ability after having their body altered by surgery, even after a complete recovery?

I don't know if shooting form was altered or not but my suggestion would be, go to a much lighter bow to begin with in order to recoup your form and build those muscles that are required to shoot back into form. Don't know what poundage your are presently using. Worth a try. Good luck.

Eric, I had 2 shoulder surgeries and a knee surgery last year. They seem to affect me more than the several other surgeries I have had. I just started shooting again with a very light bow (17#), and felt great. Shooting 36# has caused some concern. My shoulder is sore for much longer after shooting, and I find myself trying to short draw to keep from re-injuring my shoulder. Not sure if you are having any of those issues, but something to consider, eh? I will drop back to the 17# limbs for a bit and see if I can gain some confidence again. Good luck.

Eric, 2016 was my year to support local surgeons. Shoulder surgery (bow arm) in January. Anterior/posterior fusion at L4/L5 in lower back in May. And tendon reattachment surgery for right hip in November.

I was pronounced ‘completely’ healed with the shoulder after 9 months. Back was faster at six months. And the hip was ‘good to go’ in 4 months. So I was idle for more than a full year due to restrictions from each surgery.

Well, there is a big difference in the surgical site being ‘healed’ and the body being ready to resume full normal activities. I’m still five pounds shy of shooting my desired weight bow comfortably for extended periods due to the shoulder work. That’s two years and counting. But I have to also realize I’m two years older and not sure if the weight drop would have happened just due to aging.

My back, with all the titanium hardware was the most radical and invasive surgery from the front and back, but the rods and screws held things together just fine. It idled me for 4 months of doing nothing, and my core muscles weakened as a result. But I was already on restrictions from the shoulder surgery. It took me a good year to return the core muscles to presurgery levels.

My hip is still tight, and has affected my normal walking gait. Getting better, but still have to stretch it out each day. So that’s 16 months post surgery and still working on it.

Some wise person once said getting old is not for wimps. I’m in my late 60’s now and surely don’t bounce back as fast as I think I once did.

My biggest archery challenge was/is nothing feels ‘normal’. I went to a clicker to help establish the correct draw length. It took a couple of months, but drawing and anchoring feels ‘normal’. The clicker came off and the current task is building strength. Not sure I’m going to get back to pre surgery weight levels.

Sounds a bit depressing, so here’s the positive side. I have full range of motion and the shoulder, back, and hip are pain free for the first time in several years.

I have had several back surgeries plus a spinal fusion in my lower lumbar area. Then both shoulders ( RC, bones spurs and tendon tears ) one in 2012 the other last Feb. My shooting has gone done hill badly. I had to drop bow weight and still cannot practice very long before I get tired and back starts hurting. My walking has also sufferd. I tend to drag my left leg and will fall quite a bit when walking in the woods if I don't pay attention. It's very frustrating to say the least.

I started back with light bows after my shoulder surgery two years ago, same after my back a year ago. I was shooting my normal weight about a year after my back surgery.

I am a gym rat and work out three days a week but something just isn't there. I have lost some of my shooting ability.

I have dropped back to lighter weight bows but it still isn't clicking.

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here