Taking A Break

[hopalong]

Well after a real short session today I decided to give it a break with the wheel.

After putting much time in last year I have developed tendonitis in my shooting hand, the 625 and the new to me 25-2 really agrivate it to the extent that I don't even like dry firing the things.

My 1911's don't as I grip them different and the grip saftey transfers the recoil into other parts of the hand. So at least I will still be able to shoot!

It really bothered me last fall and is one of the reasons I layed off, and I was pretty well burnt out.

Hopefully it will be Ok by the time USPSA Nationals comes around, sure would like another shot at you guys, we will see.

I will also experiment with other grips or same type just different materials when it gets better, NOT done for good......Just done for now.

Keep up the good work guys, and keep after those autoblaster guys who also shoot wheels.....one of these days they will realize the wheel is the ultimate challenge in Action shooting.

Merry Christmas, see you on a range somewhere, sometime.

Hopalong

[Randy Lee]

Hop,

Bummers on the tendonitis, but glad you will still be shooting. I may be overstepping my bounds in speaking on behalf of the Central Coast Wheelgunners, but we hope your recovery is swift and complete. Once a wheelgunner, always a wheelgunner even if you are caught holding a bottomfeeder

Merriest of Christmas' to you and yours,

Randy

[hearthco]

Hop,

Bummers on the tendonitis, but glad you will still be shooting. I may be overstepping my bounds in speaking on behalf of the Central Coast Wheelgunners, but we hope your recovery is swift and complete. Once a wheelgunner, always a wheelgunner even if you are caught holding a bottomfeeder

Merriest of Christmas' to you and yours,

Randy

I happen to know that Randy has a bottom feeder or 3.

[Airedale]

Hoppy,

I told you to stop doing that or you'd go blind! At least you didn't lose your eyesight!

Take a break, relax, and recharge.

See you somewhere in the spring.

Merry Christmas my friend,

Dave

[spook]

Really sorry to hear that Hop

Tendonitis sucks. I have it in my elbow and my knee.

What kind of grips do your roundguns wear?

Merry Christmas buddy!

Bjorn

Edited December 24, 2005 by spook

[Round_Gun_Shooter]

I have shared this with many and it works:

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?...opic=2565&st=25

Several years ago the author of the article quoted below gave me permission to share it as long as it was done as a courtesy and for no profit.

I have never met Kurt but have had my own DCM use the this article to aid him in my treatment.

If Kurt is on this list, I hope he adds to it and Thanks to DRBONES (not to be confused with BONES) for sharing the info with fellow shooters.

This article was written in about 1992. Since then I have made some minor modifications to the treatment program but the basic idea is the same. There is an exercise with a rubber band, but I don't know if I can accurately describe it.

ELBOW PAIN - A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW

Kurt G. von Rice, D.C.

As a club level shooter and chiropractic physician, I would like to discuss a problem that I see in my office that is fairly common to shooters. Elbow tendonitis is what I am talking about here and the different ways of dealing with it.

Let's start with the idea of taking aspirin. In fact aspirin may dull the pain and soreness, however the side effects are not good for you. Aspirin greatly increases the amount of time it takes for your blood to clot if you get a cut or scrape and every aspirin you take causes bleeding from the stomach lining. This can lead to ulcers and other gastrointestinal problems. A much safer alternative is bioflavinoids, Omega 3 fatty acids, or alpha chymotrypsin. The bioflavinoids are a plant derivative and 6000-8000 mg. Per day have shown good anti-inflammatory action as have the Omega 3 fatty acids (a product of fish or flax oil) at 1 capsule 3 times a day. The alpha chymotrypsin is a little trickier and needs to be monitored by a professional but is the most effective of those on the market. Any of these are much safer than aspirin and are easily available.

Rest is one of the best treatments for this problem, but how much rest can you get 3 weeks before the Nationals. That is exactly what one of my patient's asked me when he developed tendonitis in the elbow.

Okay, enough talk about what won't work and let's get on with what will. The problem requires a certain amount of attention for several reasons. (1) If the tendon has pulled completely away from the bone, it needs to be surgically reattached. Fortunately shooting rarely causes an injury of that severity. (2) Because shooting relies on a gripping action (as does tennis and golf), most shooters develop a muscle imbalance in the forearm which contributes to the problem and (3) there's usually more going on than a simple tendon sprain.

Typically with elbow tendonitis the head of the radius (the main bone of the forearm) at the elbow joint slips anatomically posterior or rearward and thereby compromises the bio mechanics of the joint.

A few causes of this problem are things that cannot be avoided if we are to continue to shoot; repeated recoil absorbed by the forearms, practicing reloads and draws, etc.. However with the proper treatment, exercises, and sometimes-minor technique modifications it is a problem that can in most cases are solved without surgical intervention. Perhaps the easiest way to do this is with a case study.

A fellow shooter approached me before the Nationals several years ago with severe elbow pain in his dominant arm. It had started several months earlier and had gotten progressively worse. The examination indicated tendonitis in the area of the right elbow. The treatment protocol consisted of specific chiropractic manipulation of the neck (which is where the nerves of the shoulder-arm-hand complex exit the spine) and the involved elbow (to restore the head of the radius to it's proper position), ice on the area 4-5 times per day to reduce inflammation, and frictional massage of the tendon with a liniment that I have found to be helpful in relieving the pain and enhancing healing. He was also given a series of stretches and exercises to balance the strength and flexibility of the forearm musculature to perform at home. Probably the most important of these is the reverse wrist curl which helps develop the muscle group on the top of the forearm. These are the muscles that open the fingers and bend the wrist backward. This muscle group needs to be strengthened to balance the overdeveloped muscle groups that we use every day to close the fingers into a fist. The finger flexors are continually in use just by gripping the gun. Also we increased the weight of his recoil spring just slightly to allow the gun itself to absorb more of the recoil. One last thing was a change in the presentation of the gun. Locking the arms out too hard causes hyper extension of the elbow joint which can definitely contribute to this problem. He went on to place 63rd at the Nationals and with periodic check-ups, has not had a problem since. (Author's note: Since that time I have found that acupuncture can definitely accelerate the healing process and has been added to the protocol.)

The most important part of this treatment, in my opinion, is the chiropractic manipulation. By removing the interference on the involved nerves, the body has the opportunity to heal faster. After all, the only thing that can heal the body is the body itself.

So if you are having problems with your elbows, seek a professional opinion and rule out serious pathology, look at your technique, do the exercises, ice the area, and find a chiropractic physician that manipulates extremities as well as the spine.

The exercise to strengthen the muscles referred to at the beginning is done with a rubber band. Holding the four fingers of the hand against the thumb make what looks like a Duck's bill. With the elastic band around all fingers and the thumb, open the ducks bill against the resistance of the elastic band. This will strengthen the muscles needed to counteract the tendonitis. I do it while driving and it makes a difference.

See also:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home...on?q=Handmaster

As far as Spooks Knees, http://www.itbs.info/

I have also started Acupuncture for my hands and knees and it is working.

All from the hazzards of my trade, my hobby and getting older.

Regards,

Edited December 24, 2005 by Round_Gun_Shooter

[cooper_999]

Merry Christmas, see you on a range somewhere, sometime.

Hopalong

Hello Hop,

get well soon! And Merry Christmas to you and all the others out there!

Sascha

[dajarrel]

Hey Sam,

I hate to hear it. I had a bout in my right elbow last year. Physical therapy and time pretty much took care of it. I take an herbal supplement, Glucosamin Condroitin, every day and it may just be snake oil but it seems to help.

I'm looking forward to seeing you on the range again.

dj

[Randy Lee]

Hop,

Bummers on the tendonitis, but glad you will still be shooting. I may be overstepping my bounds in speaking on behalf of the Central Coast Wheelgunners, but we hope your recovery is swift and complete. Once a wheelgunner, always a wheelgunner even if you are caught holding a bottomfeeder

Merriest of Christmas' to you and yours,

Randy

I happen to know that Randy has a bottom feeder or 3.

Yes, I own them...but I don't take them out in public.

[cliffwalsh]

Hey Sam,

I hate to hear it. I had a bout in my right elbow last year. Physical therapy and time pretty much took care of it. I take an herbal supplement, Glucosamin Condroitin, every day and it may just be snake oil but it seems to help.

I'm looking forward to seeing you on the range again.

dj

Sam takes a 'herbal supplement' also.. I can't see how he shoots so well this such a bad case of glaucoma???

[Steve Moneypenny]

Wow, hop that's sad to hear man. Can wearing one of those arm bands help... maybe some supplements? how about shooting a minor gun? Production

Hope to see you at the range again soon. You can really make a round gun sing!

[hopalong]

Steve,

It is the tendon that runs from the thumb into the meaty portion of the hand, Minor may help if it comes down to it. Have to let it get better first.

Hop

Btw, YOU don't want me to shoot production.......you'd just be one more step down the ladder!

Randy, It doesn't hurt to bring them out in public.

[Viggen]

Hopalong, take this opportunity to switch to your "weak" side for a few months.

You keep your timing, gain a skill that you get no other way - fear no weak hand stage, ever. It will give the hand the time it actually needs to heal instead of dragging it out.

Tendons take time.

Switch over.

[rwmagnus]

hopalong...sorry to hear of your injury. I feel your pain however. With me it's a sharp pain in my strong hand wrist and revolvers aren't helping the issue any. Several tell me the pain will work it's way out and go away. I dunno, but one can always hope. I've hung up my six shooters also and am turning to a G35 for Limited. Recoil springs seem to help the issue although I'm not really sure what the issue really is. I'm optimistic that I can continue with the sport.

Getting older ain't for sissys!

[ipscron2000]

Hop, I think your running scared. You just heard that I'm going to start shooting Revolver and your scared I might school ya.

Trust me, I understand about hand pain. I hope you get better.