Repetitive motion "injury?"

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Prof Young

New member
Loaders:
So I've been having trouble with the muscles on the top of my left shoulder cramping up. Went to my doc and she asked if I'd been doing anything differently with that arm/side of my body. It occurs to me that since I've retired I'm spending far more time reloading than ever before. My left hand pulls the lever on my single stage press. Anyone else have this kind of problem?

Live well, be safe.
Prof Young
 
How many rounds do you load at a sitting/per day/per week? How much of an increase is that from before?

Sometimes if you change the angle of the operating lever, you can change the geometry of your arm movement to relieve the repetitive motion irritation. Does your press allow such an adjustment?

A photograph of your setup might help. A photo or few of you using your setup might help even more.

Lost Sheep
 
that is why I have a Lee press on the left side of my bench and a Hornady on the right. They load from opposite sides.
Now add a Forster Co-Ax which has a handle in the middle and you have the perfect storm.

Seriously speaking have someone video record you reloading.
Sometimes a little tweaking of the press height may remove an unnecessary motion from the area in question.
 
I have a torn rotor cuff that cannot be repaired in my right shoulder. I was reloading on a single stage press also. I decided to buy a progressive press to limit the number of times I pull the lever to complete a round. I went from pulling the handle 4 times to complete a round to one time. It is much easier on my shoulder and I can load more rounds in less time.
 
I don't think my active reloading has anything to do with this, but I just now am recovering from "reverse shoulder replacement". Still in a brace now for 7 weeks and suppose to see the doctor on the 9th of next month. Hopefully he'll tell me it's ok to remove. FYI my rotor cuff was destroyed so rational for the major surgery.
 
Repetitive motion "injury?"


I was told reloaders have an exemption. The last time the subject came up about pulling bullets with the inertia impact hammer I suggested it was a bad habit. I was doing some heavy impact type work when my elbow started failing. I went to the doctor; he informed me I had tennis elbow. We all know I do not play tennis so I ask the doctor “How can that be?” He was not amused.

Then he went on to say the hammer is of a very poor design because of the straight handle. Then there is thing with lead, same thing; reloaders have an exemption. Reminds me of the time I heard ‘The Sergeants’ arguing. They decided the were immune because they were Sergeant.

F. Guffey
 
I concur with the previous posts as to a progressive press. Last year I loaded some 17,300+ rounds on a Lee auto index turret press. That equates to some 138,000 plus push-pulls of the handle. Now have a Dillon 550 and loaded 600 rounds of 38 spl. in just over 2 hours getting acquainted with the press and the process. That equates to just 600 pull-pushes- 1 per round. A hell of a lot easier on my hands and shoulder. Just sorry I waited this long to get one. before this I have some 56,000= rounds on the Lee Turret and over a 1/4 million push pulls. I'm wore out just typing about that:eek:
 
Both of my elbows are injured, but it is mainly from rotational issues, not straight line motions, like my press.

Since I did not have a pacemaker, the doctor suggested a tens unit, I tried it and it works.

Tennis players get pain on the outside of the elbow, golfers on the inside.

Perhaps you can change the angle of the lever, or the side it is attached from and reload weak side.
 
What Doyle said; no joke. Several years ago, I broke my right arm near the wrist. I was forced to do things left handed. I'm really right handed with only mild abidexterity. However, there are now a few things that I always do entirely left handed. It's only awkward for a little while; you'll get the hang of it. Plus, you can probable keep doing it the way you have been; just not so many reps. Where there's a will, there's a way.
 
Yes, I had the same issue for a while. Part of your problem I suspect is how high or low your bench is in relation to "you," be you sitting or standing, i.e. your reach. You could be over-extending with the repetitive motion. When I had a single stage press I had to sit on a stool in order to work the press. I could not stand because the distance to move the handle was too great and caused the problem you are experiencing.

Resolution came when I decide to upgrade to a turret press. I also purchased an inline fabrication stand. It provides many advantages; better leverage, better view, ease of access. I can sit or stand, work the press without any problems.

Good luck. Feel better.

http://inlinefabrication.com/
 
Please post pictures of you at the bench doing the loading. Do that from several directions. That way we can analyze the ergonomics of your setup and make suggestions. Repetative motion injuries usually are the result of working in a manner that mechanically stresses the body. Instead of adjusting the body to the equipment we need to make the equipment adjust to us. However even with the best ergonomically arranged workstation there is a limit on what the human body can endure. Once set up we all want to maximize our ammo output, but we need to keep in mind that this is a hobby and not a job.
 
I have a Hornady LNL AP press and reload 4K of 9mm/month. The Inline Fabrications roller handle works well for, I have an inexpensive (Amazon) adjustable bar stool so I can get my head and arm in the best position and since installing a bullet feeder my only repetitive operation is pulling the handle.
 
Doyle said:
I don't have the problem, but I do have a solution. Pull with your right hand for a while. :D
Click to expand...

I've heard if you pull with the other hand it's almost like someone else is doing it. :rolleyes:
 
"...Supraspinatus..." Starts at the front of the shoulder, goes over and down under the blade and attaches back there some place. Mine's completely torn. Better now, but I'd lose complete use of my arm for short periods. Scared the excrement out of another guy when we were lifting an empty skid and it happened.
No cramps involved, but go see your doc.
 
I have a Hornady LNL AP press and reload 4K of 9mm/month. The Inline Fabrications roller handle works well for, I have an inexpensive (Amazon) adjustable bar stool so I can get my head and arm in the best position and since installing a bullet feeder my only repetitive operation is pulling the handle.
Click to expand...

did you get the long or short handle ? What is the height of your reloading bench ?
 
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