Tendonitis from engaging in the shooting sports

You may not want to hear this but I also agree with focusing on quality rather than quantity , and if excellent technique is a goal then using a lighter caliber so you still have similar mechanics up until the recoil impulse. Joint injury and inflammation does not come and go for free. Scar tissue is deposited, joints enlarge but weaken. All adults have some degree if arthritis already but when it starts hurting the focus is how well we can put up with the pain. Young athletes who have had joint trauma may start having arthritis early on.
 
I had a nasty case of tendonitis in my wrist from shooting. It was due to the combination of the recoil and heavy trigger of an AMT 45 Backup. I put about 200 rounds through that gun in one day and that's a lot for this little gun. It took me a few weeks to recover.
 
I once got tendonitis from long sessions at the reloading press.
I now use progressive loaders to produce a day's worth of ammo in a few minutes instead of trying to produce case lots.

Nowadays, age 70, I get some effect from shooting. A 12 stage sanctioned IDPA match will leave my hands somewhat achy. A 6 stage club match little if any.
 
Yeah, one of the first things to go with age is stamina.
Then it's the joints, then it's the recoil, then it's.................
Oh well. :o
As long as we don't outlive our brains.
 
Take it from someone who used to own a Gym, the best thing is rest and ice.
Lay off the weights and just do your cardio for a 2-4 week period and it should get a lot better, but honestly tendon injury's take 6 weeks to really heap, so take as much time as you can. Also an anti inflammatory like Voltaran or even Asprin will help.
 
Not muscle problems, but bone problems. The last time I left the military the Doctor asked when I had broken my collar bone. I did not know I had, but it showed up on the x-ray. Apparently not a clean break, but it was broken. The only thing I could think of was all the high power time on the ranges (Both personal guns and issue stuff) fractured it.
 
I got it from typing on a keyboard years ago (computer industry -programmer). Rest for the wrists helped but then I changed jobs and still in the puter bizz I did not have to type on keyboards all the time. I knew people who had braces on their wrists, did exercises, took drugs (legal) etc. but I guess stopping the repetitive motion is the big thing.
 
Got it from learning to shoot a S&W .22 revolver, double action. Fire in the muscle on top of the forearm, just forward of the elbow.

It was obviously not recoil, just over-use of a muscle/tendon that didn't ordinarily get that much use. All my pistols are single action, and I grew up shooting even double-action revolvers single action.

Traded a Buckmark for the Smith - I think it is a Model 17, or the predecessor to that - and decided to learn to shoot double action.

There is a funny story associated with this that I'll not bore you with, but rest and ice, and time, cured it.
 
Tennis elbow (lateral humeral epicondylitis) is very common and insidious. Usual causes is overuse, and usually effects ages 30-50. There are forearm stretches that you can do prior to activity to limit your chances of recurrence.

My Marines use to get it when they did their 7 day rifle/pistol range evolutions. But painters, carpenters, and plumbers also commonly get it.

Basic treatment is NSAIDs & R.I.C.E.

Rest(the limb)
Ice(20min per hour for 24 hours)
Constriction (to comfort)
Elevation (in your case, a sling above the heart)

Good time to Learn how to shoot with your non dominate hand.
The advise is free.
 
Interesting direct effect of this injury is that for the last week or two, I have been shooting with my non-dominant hand. After a few hundred rounds, I am becoming quite proficient at it.
 
Excellent! When I had it in my right arm, I went back to single action shooting - and learned to run my mouse left handed.
 
Don't forget about physical therapy.
There's several exercises that can help.
Fortunately, they can be easily found on youtube.
Just do a search for "tennis elbow exercises" and take your pick.
The one that seems to work the best for me is:
Hold the damaged arm out straight to the front, chest high.
Grab the wrist with the other hand for resistance, and gently try to pull the damaged arm down to the side, keeping it straight all the while.
I use a bungy cord tied to the ceiling of the garage for resistance instead, though.
It really helps.
 
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