Pistols and Tennis Elbow

[Trriemferent]

At the risk of being made fun Im making this thread.

Ive been shooting pistols (on a regular basis) for about 2 years and it seems like lately Ive been developing tennis elbow in both arms mainly in my weak hand (left arm). I mostly shoot isosceles or modified isosceles with 9mm/45 pistols but its gotten so bad that I dont even want to pick up a pistol anymore. Iv bought a brace and take anti inflammatory meds but its not helping much. So does anyone one have any advise for me...... besides telling to lift some weights. Should I change my shooting stance or technique? Has anyone else been through this?

[readysetgo]

At the risk of being made fun Im making this thread.

Have you tried putting down your purse?




j/k

Maybe try glucosamine and exercise your arms, forearms and wrist.

[Don the savage]

Check this link out, dude is supposed to be PT for Rob Leathemhttp://www.absolutept.com/shooters-elbow/

[1911R SSS]

I had the same problem, I went through a few months when I was shooting every weekend a 1k plus rounds just pistol. And I came to the conclusion that it was from loading the magazines. I took a couple months off and bought a Uplula knock on wood but the problem hasn't came back. It's very painful you can't grip anything.

[Walking Fire]

Eat Wheaties..
It will go away if you take it easy for a while, Sounds like you were having too much fun.

[liberallyloaded]

It's delicious...

[TKM]

How big a boy are ya?

[SoberClurichaun]

You don't need to be lifting weights with tennis elbow. Sounds like you might be locking out your arms and that could be the problem. Look at other things you use your arm for as well throughout your day.

[pacrat]

BTDT

I have lateral epicondalitis [tennis elbow] in both arms. Never played tennis but have installed tens of thousands of upper wall cupboard cabinets over a 30 yr period. And used the required HD screw and nail guns to do it.

Painfull condition is cause by the tendons rubbing against the ulna nerve in the forearm just below the elbow. IIRC from what the docs told me.

Wear a "tendon strap" on each forearm just below the elbow. The circumferential pressure from the strap keeps the tendons and nerves working in a straight line parallel to each other instead of allowing the tendon rub over the nerve.

JM2c

[RobertMW]

At the risk of being made fun Im making this thread.

Ive been shooting pistols (on a regular basis) for about 2 years and it seems like lately Ive been developing tennis elbow in both arms mainly in my weak hand (left arm). I mostly shoot isosceles or modified isosceles with 9mm/45 pistols but its gotten so bad that I dont even want to pick up a pistol anymore. Iv bought a brace and take anti inflammatory meds but its not helping much. So does anyone one have any advise for me...... besides telling to lift some weights. Should I change my shooting stance or technique? Has anyone else been through this?

When I first started to dive into USPSA shooting and having high round count/ draw count days, I got the same issue. I had pain for about 6 months, just pushed through it, most research shows that this type of "shooters elbow" does not get worse with more training. The solution (at least I feel) was when I got more into weight training (sorry, that's what you don't want to hear.) Specifically, what helped the most are any exercises that are going to put strain on your forearms. Because I am pretty big (220 lb.) pull-ups kill my forearms when I use a large bar. Also, heavier dumbbell curls, and heavy deadlifts. The trick is to use larger grips, so Olympic spec. bars or thicker, they make your forearms do more work, and that is what you need to strengthen and stretch. Deadlifts (both hands same direction grip, not opposite to each other) especially work your grip and forearms.

This kind of weight work will improve your shooting two-fold. It will get rid of your shooters elbow, and your grip will improve for recoil and follow through. Within 6 weeks of going hard on these exercises I was mostly cured, 3 months total and it was gone.

[whipkiller]

BTDT

I have lateral epicondalitis [tennis elbow] in both arms. Never played tennis but have installed tens of thousands of upper wall cupboard cabinets over a 30 yr period. And used the required HD screw and nail guns to do it.

Painfull condition is cause by the tendons rubbing against the ulna nerve in the forearm just below the elbow. IIRC from what the docs told me.

Wear a "tendon strap" on each forearm just below the elbow. The circumferential pressure from the strap keeps the tendons and nerves working in a straight line parallel to each other instead of allowing the tendon rub over the nerve.
JM2c

This will help.

Dr. told me a few years ago I had Tennis Elbow, I said "Can't be Doc, I've been playing Racquetball."

It was bad enough that I could carry a gallon of milk fine because of the handle, but just trying to grab lightweight things like papers with a pinching motion of the thumb and forefingers was really painful, particularly at certain angles.

I got a couple of cortisone shots, and while I still know it's there, it hasn't really flared back up yet.

[Casual_Shooter]

Look up Floss Bands. Specifically the videos by Kelly Starrett. I developed the same "Tennis Elbow" type symptoms in my left elbow. Figured it was from lifting weights/ pull-ups/ push ups.. etc.

I used a floss band a couple times a week for "a while" (don't remember how long.. maybe a couple weeks) and it was gone. If I feel it coming back, I do the floss band thing a couple of times and cures it again.

Dealt with it every day for months until I ran across the bands.

[Southwest Chuck]

BTDT

I have lateral epicondalitis [tennis elbow] in both arms. Never played tennis but have installed tens of thousands of upper wall cupboard cabinets over a 30 yr period. And used the required HD screw and nail guns to do it.

Painfull condition is cause by the tendons rubbing against the ulna nerve in the forearm just below the elbow. IIRC from what the docs told me.

Wear a "tendon strap" on each forearm just below the elbow. The circumferential pressure from the strap keeps the tendons and nerves working in a straight line parallel to each other instead of allowing the tendon rub over the nerve.

JM2c

^^^ This. Wear it religiously, even when your not shooting. The tendon connects your muscle to the bone. My Dr. Told me that as the muscle flexes, the tendon pulls on both. A slight rip in the tendon at either end causes the pain. The more you flex the muscle, the greater the injury worsens (tendon rips more). The only way it can heal is to keep the tendon flat on the bone (with the brace) and try not to grip/lift anything heavy. Keep it as tight as you can without cutting off your circulation. Took me 8 months for mine to heal after I tried to blow the Dr. off (when I was young and dumb), and finally saw the light. They heal very slowly and be cautious ...... don't take it off too soon. Wear it at least another month or two after it stops hurting. It's cheap insurance against re-injury.

Oddly enough, you probably didn't even know at the time you injured it. Mine was a fluke. I reach into a shopping basket (at an odd angle and off balance) to grab a gallon of milk I was purchasing.
Needless to say, I stopped drinking milk after that.... Damned Cows But hey look at the bright side. Now you have a place attach your phone or ipod while going for a jog or a hike!

[71MUSTY]

MAYBE switch to a PINK gun.

J/k

Check this link out, dude is supposed to be PT for Rob Leathemhttp://www.absolutept.com/shooters-elbow/

This makes a lot of sense along with many of the other posts

[bentbackwards]

Many people on this forum who suffer from tennis elbow may benefit from reading this post about shooters elbow...

http://www.tenniselbowtips.com/blog/shooters-elbow/

Good luck,
Richard