Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 14

Thread: coming back to shooting after upper body surgery

  1. #1

    coming back to shooting after upper body surgery

    I managed to destroy my left collarbone while skiing over christmas break. It was bad enough that the ortho recommended surgery (broke in 2 places, plus some displacement). Now I am sitting at home recovering from that surgery and getting ready for outpatient PT soon. Arm is already out of the sling but not allowed to be weight bearing.

    Who here has had upper body surgery and how has it affected your ability to shoot? Should I discuss anything in particular with my PT? Any special exercises you've done to help regain strength in affected areas?

  2. #2
    I was shot in my strong side, right elbow. Once I was cleared for full duty/physical activity, swimming (mainly free style) at my own pace made everything easy. So long as you're cleared, I wouldn't worry about shooting but rather muscular recovery doing the exercises of your choice.
    #RESIST

  3. #3
    Site Supporter Hambo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Behind the Photonic Curtain
    Talk to your physical therapist about it and see what they recommend. IME they're really cool with active patients who want to get back to doing things.
    "Gunfighting is a thinking man's game. So we might want to bring thinking back into it."-MDFA

  4. #4

    coming back to shooting after upper body surgery

    I had shoulder surgery. I asked my doc early on about shooting and he let me shoot pistol about 4 weeks earlier than a rifle.

    Best advice I ever got was DO THE PT!!

    I recovered really fast and my right arm has about 5-10% less flexibility than before surgery and I attribute that to doing therapy every single day and the stretches 3x a day like they recommended. I have some guys I work with who can barely put their arm behind their backs and it's because they slacked on pt.

    Don't rush it. Shooting will always be there later on.
    Last edited by JCS; 01-05-2017 at 10:08 AM.
    "Shooting is 90% mental. The rest is in your head." -Nils

  5. #5
    Site Supporter
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    In the desert, looking for water.
    Quote Originally Posted by shootist26 View Post
    I managed to destroy my left collarbone while skiing over christmas break. It was bad enough that the ortho recommended surgery (broke in 2 places, plus some displacement). Now I am sitting at home recovering from that surgery and getting ready for outpatient PT soon. Arm is already out of the sling but not allowed to be weight bearing.

    Who here has had upper body surgery and how has it affected your ability to shoot? Should I discuss anything in particular with my PT? Any special exercises you've done to help regain strength in affected areas?
    That's so weird. My uncle had that exact injury from skiing over Christmas, and can't even go to work for a while.

  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by 1776United View Post
    I had shoulder surgery. I asked my doc early on about shooting and he let me shoot pistol about 4 weeks earlier than a rifle.

    Best advice I ever got was DO THE PT!!

    I recovered really fast and my right arm has about 5-10% less flexibility than before surgery and I attribute that to doing therapy every single day and the stretches 3x a day like they recommended. I have some guys I work with who can barely put their arm behind their backs and it's because they slacked on pt.

    Don't rush it. Shooting will always be there later on.
    yea I'm doing all the exercises that my PT gave me during my initial in-home visit

  7. #7
    I truly wasn't impressed with the PT, but I did it.
    #RESIST

  8. #8
    Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Louisiana
    Quote Originally Posted by Hambo View Post
    Talk to your physical therapist about it and see what they recommend. IME they're really cool with active patients who want to get back to doing things.
    Well, I'm an outpatient/ortho PT so I agree with Hambo. We do like working with motivated patients and.... we're cool!

    In all seriousness. Speak with your ortho and ask who he likes to send his sports medicine patients to. It may not be the closest, but clinics, like people, have personalities. Some see a lot of older sedentary clients. Some a lot of workers comp/attorney neck and back stuff. Some (like ours) see a lot of athletes and post op ortho rehabs. You need to go to a clinic who sees active people and an lot of ortho rehab.

    Last thought. Your shoulder doesn't work in isolation. Your neck may be stiff and tight. Your scapula probably needs work and of course as everyone will tell you it's all is based on "core" stability and strength. Make sure your PT is looking at the big picture.

    One handed shooting is going to be a main issue. I had minor neck surgery last fall and am still struggling a bit. Show your PT what you need to do as a shooter as rehab progresses and you will get there.

    Good luck!
    Last edited by LittleLebowski; 01-05-2017 at 12:50 PM.

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Slalom.45
    In all seriousness. Speak with your ortho and ask who he likes to send his sports medicine patients to. It may not be the closest, but clinics, like people, have personalities. Some see a lot of older sedentary clients. Some a lot of workers comp/attorney neck and back stuff. Some (like ours) see a lot of athletes and post op ortho rehabs. You need to go to a clinic who sees active people and an lot of ortho rehab.

    good advice. thanks
    Last edited by shootist26; 01-05-2017 at 12:45 PM.

  10. #10
    Site Supporter
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    America
    Ask your surgeon about which physical therapist to use. I went through 4 before I found a great one for me Lots of patients are elderly or have sedentary jobs so their needs are different. I'm bigger than the average bear so I needed a bigger therapist. I had some nice lady PTs but working on me was hard on them and not successful for me. I finally ended up with the head PT at the clinic. I told him I didn't care what he did; sacrifice a chicken. Whatever he had to but fix me. It hurt. A lot. But I think I am better because of it. Age also is a big part of healing. 25 vs 45 is no joke
    As for shooting- don't rush anything. You'll know when can. Just don't jump back in were you were and you should be fine. Lots of doctors don't have any idea of shooting or sports needs
    Last edited by Poconnor; 01-05-2017 at 01:14 PM.

User Tag List

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •