Exercise and Fitness

dick cress · 03-11-2004, 05:27 PM

As of tomorrow I am three months post op from open heart surgery. Next week the docs and my rehab specialists are going to let me slowly start working up to my bow.

My question . . . I don't want to pay the price for the Bow Fit or the Saunders variety . . . I would like to make my own and would like some ideas.

pinesap · 03-11-2004, 06:01 PM

What is Bow Fit or the Saunders variety ? Glad too hear eveything going good enough to start rehab. Thats going to be hard for awhile untill your chest heals. I'm sure they will give you all the help you need. Thats good your motivated with the help of your bow.

coyote170 · 03-11-2004, 07:00 PM

I use the Bow Fit cheap enough and works fine.

dick cress · 03-11-2004, 07:37 PM

I never had a pain in my chest either before or after surgery . . . that's how the problem was almost missed.

I am retired and money supplies are limited. I suspect that with the right raw material I can beat the $25.00 for the Bowfit or Saunders thing listed in Cabela's.

I should be shooting by April first and ready to pack a load by the end of June. My surgeon who is also a bowhunter says I'll be better than new by season opener.

Washington Hunter · 03-11-2004, 07:43 PM

Rubber Surgical Tubing, tie the ends together and start out with it completely unwound, draw it back like you would a bow. When that gets too easy, wind it up a little to increase the 'poundage' of it.

My dad had shoulder surgery a few years back and that's what his Doc had him do (fortunately the Doc is also an Archer).

PABowhntr · 03-12-2004, 05:01 AM

I believe I am familiar with the devices you mentioned. However, would not a bicycle tire or some other tire inner tube serve the same function? Different diameter inner tubes would give you different tension levels.

rcd567 · 03-12-2004, 07:58 AM

Check with the cardiac rehab unit of the hospital or the physical therapy department and ask for some of the rubber strapping. I had shoulder surgery a couple years back and they have rolls of rubber band stuff in differant tensions. They will probably give you enough to work out with.

Good luck with your rehab. May you harvest your best deer yet this fall.

dick cress · 03-12-2004, 10:29 AM

I like the idea of surgical tubing. I'll call my clinic and see what they can send me.

I am an avid bicycler, the innertube would be far too stiff.

Martin Cougar · 03-12-2004, 11:42 AM

Our cardiac rehab used to sell "Thera-bands and Dyna-bands" by the foot to the public. They are color-coded elastic bands - different color = different resistance.

Try these names at a Cardiac rehab or physical therapy. May even find them at a sporting goods store like Dick's Sporting Goods.

dick cress · 03-12-2004, 12:38 PM

I am stopping at out hardware store in Arlington . . . they may have something similar. Absent that Northern Sales in Mt. Vernon should have something too.

Not sure where Dick's is.