A serious question... I promise
 

I suffered aserious back injury while on the job back in 2006. Prior to that I pulled 50# pretty easily. Being laid up for 6 months and then wearing a back brace for the next year I lost most of my muscle mass. Figuring I'd never be able to draw again I sold my bow. Well I started getting the itch to shoot again so my boyfriend quizzed me about my old bow and suprised me with a Diamond Edge. I was thrilled, but the pull strength is 50# and I just can't do it. I can pull back about 3 consecutive shots and on the 4th I only make it half-way before pain. I've been doing my best to bulk back up, but can't really figure out exact exercises to help with pull strength.

Any ideas? Techniques? Anything would be welcome. I haven't been bow hunting since 2005 and its killing me [>:]

RE: A serious question... I promise
 

turn the poundage down

RE: A serious question... I promise
 

If I were you, I would ask who ever your doctor was during your back issues, about advice or suggestions on specificexcersices to strengthen those muscles. I have no advice on specific things do to becuase Ive never been in that situation... Hope everything works out for you..

You could also just decrease the draw weight to whatever the legal minimum weight is for your state

RE: A serious question... I promise
 

Turn the poundage down to about 38-40 adn work your way up from there. just dont kill yourself doing it too much at a time.

I bought my GF an edge this past year. It is a very nice bow.
Derek

RE: A serious question... I promise
 

What I do is I use a timer and set it for about 50 seconds so by the time I pull back the timer is at arounr 45 seconds and then I hold it until the time is up and shoot the arrow. Do it about 10-15 times before I, personally start hurting. For you I would probably do it for less time to start off, if you even want to try this. Not sure if this will work or not, it seems to work for me.

RE: A serious question... I promise
 

I grew up lifting weights andslowed downa few years ago when I hit 30 years old.

My right latoid is way bigger than my left...and thats because I've shot bows all my life...so with that being said...I think the best exercise for the particular muscle used for drawing is...drawing your bow...thats the exact exercise you need..

In response to hard core hunter....I agree with him to a a certain extent...

If I was you...I would keep your bow with you on the couch in the evening....draw it back every day in between commercials..

When you start to practice before hunting season dial it down 5-8 pounds...

Good Luck!!

RE: A serious question... I promise
 

This is very good advise...I had a injury to my left bicept...and in time this is basically what I did, I turned my bow down to 60# and worked my way back up from there almost the same way as described above.

RE: A serious question... I promise
 

Thanks targethog....If she's getting it back 3 times before she feels sore than I'd guess she just needsto condition...If it hurts at any poundage..then maybe see the doctor...I say shes ready to train! :D

RE: A serious question... I promise
 

Just be careful drawing your bow with or without an arrow on it. It would be no good to send an arrow through something or blow up teh bow b/c of drawing excercises. I would suggest you get one of those draw things that they have at archery shops that wont allow the bow to "fire" that could keep you from having something bad happen. Good luck
Derek

RE: A serious question... I promise
 

Thanks guys. Doc told me to switch jobs and give up bow hunting. I kept my job and I'm not ready to throw in the towel for the bow. My back will always hurt, I've got it for life, but I still want to be able to enjoy it. I've been weight training three times per week since August, and while I have noticed a difference in lifting it still hasn't done much for my draw.

RE: A serious question... I promise
 

Well an exercise you can do is a seated row or take a dumbell and bend at the waist and lift the weight the way you would draw a bow. I'm not sure what they call this. If that bothers you back find a bench to lay flat on you stomack and pull the dumbell up like you would pulling the bow.

This gives you th opertunity to warm up. If your going to shoot you can do this with light weights before pulling your bow. This will help build up you muscles with out injuring yourself more. Ultimately you bow is the exact thing you need to use but if you want to build up strength you'll be better off working up to it. This will give your muscles time to get blood flowing which helps build muscle.

I suggest trying it with light weights maybe 5 lbs. Do 15 reps then go to 10 and do 15 more... then 20 etc. If you belong to a gym they have all the dumbells you'll need. Ask a trainer if need be and they will show you how to do that particular exercize. Maybe someone else knows the name of the one I'm refering to.

Turn that bow down too. That way you can build back to the 50 lbs.

RE: A serious question... I promise
 

Get thera-bands... basically you can go to about any doctor or physical therapist office and get them for free or very little cash. They come in different colors which indicate different strengths. You can tie them to the door knob, stand on them whatever to work the exact muscle you need. This is how I rehabbed my shoulder after rotator cuff surgery.

http://www.thera-band.com/store/index.php?CategoryID=11

RE: A serious question... I promise
 

I'll tell you huntingirl that after three back surgeries I thank god for my crossbow. I hunt the same way I do with my compound and the rush and excitement are still there.

RE: A serious question... I promise
 

I broke my back about 25 years ago now and I had to lower my poundage way down and just shoot, Your back muscles will come back. But remember with todays bows you don't need alot of poundage. My daughter shot her first deer with a #35 bow and smoked right through it like butter. With the speed and right broadheads you can still bow hunt. Walt

RE: A serious question... I promise
 

Just do 3 shot practice sessions all year so it doesn't hurt, you say the 4th one is the killer. then when the season comes around you only need one pull if you have gotten proficient with the practice.

RE: A serious question... I promise
 

I injured my back eight years ago and because I didn't listen to the doctor's advice after the 1st operation I now have hadsix back operations that have left me with permanent nerve damage and in constant pain. I am still able to do some very limited hunting as long as I stick to flat ground and make arraignments for someone to drag out my deer.

My advise is to listen to your doctor and your back. If pulling the bow back is causing pain it could also be causing more damage to your back an nerves. Depending on your state regulations you could consider going the crossbow route like I did. It is nearly the same thrill as bow hunting with a vert.

Bob

RE: A serious question... I promise
 

they make things called powerbands, we used them alot in high school football to warm up and stretch before practice. I figure they would help u out. They look like a big rubberband and i think theymake some stronger and weaker, i don't know.....just a suggestion

RE: A serious question... I promise
 

ever try a crossbow? they have mechanical systems built on them to draw it for you!