Archery-related injuries

Hyarmendacil · Post by **Hyarmendacil** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 5:01 pm

Is anybody here aware of any comprehensive studies done about archery-related injuries and deformations to musculoskeletal structures other than the one done on the Mary Rose archers? I'm particularly interested in ones where the subjects are practicing traditional archers, if possible--that is, not modern/FITA archers, since I've been able to find plenty of resources on that subject.

Ashbow · Post by **Ashbow** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 7:45 pm

Well, maybe not directly related to concrete deformations or injuries but I remember a long time ago I came across a passage in some Tibetan medicine texts saying that drawing a to heavy bow may lead to imbalances in some body fluids (phlegm?) (According to that medicine system those ?substances? are supposed to represent and be responsible for concrete qualities in somebody?s body.) and in effect cause some health problems.

Sorry but I?m not able to give an actual quote at present.

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 6:27 am

Except for muscle strain (translation from a Chinese novel quoted in the last chapter of 'Chinese Archery'), I don't recall seeing anything specific.

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 2:00 am

The Qianlong emperor wrote a letter about the danger of using drugs to build up your muscles in order to shoot very heavy bows.

Most Middle Eastern manuals had lists of injuries and their causes.

Professor Kooi might have published something on this because he has been studying the mechanics of shooting and its use in training Olympic archers.

Hyarmendacil · Post by **Hyarmendacil** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:10 pm

Hmm. Prof. Kooi's online publications ( http://www.bio.vu.nl/thb/users/kooi/ ) don't seem to include any such study, but sincet he newest item in the collection is several years old I guess it'd be worth the effort to contact him more directly. I'll go and see what I can get from there.

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 1:43 am

Bede wrote:The Qianlong emperor wrote a letter about the danger of using drugs to build up your muscles in order to shoot very heavy bows.

Anywhere I could see a copy/translation of that, Bede? We're setting up an Olympic Museum in HK and that would be an interesting piece of info to add.

S

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 1:55 pm

Stephen,
It was quoted in the book, The Manchu Way. I can look up the page numbers and reference for you.