title: Shoulder injuries in archery.
abstract: Twenty-one elite-calibre archers (M = 12, F = 9) were investigated concerning all past and present archery-related shoulder injuries, using a questionnaire and physical examination. The questionnaire revealed that 11 of 21 archers had complained of significant shoulder injuries either currently or during their careers. While 9/12 men never had shoulder problems during an average of 13.5 years, only 4/9 women escaped injury during a mean 10.9 year competitive career. Deficits in training programs were noted, including lack of training and non-specific exercises. Clinical examination demonstrated shoulder asymmetry and decreased flexibility in the drawing arm (DA) shoulder. Functional testing revealed a positive impingement sign in 6/21 DA shoulders. Supraspinatus testing showed abnormalities in 4/21 DA shoulders. Pain was referred posteriorly with the impingement maneuver in 5/21 DA shoulders and abnormal external rotation testing was observed in 8/21 DA shoulders. Generally, the females had proportionally more signs and symptoms of shoulder injury than the men, especially involving the DA shoulder. Testing implicated supraspinatus impingement/tendonitis and infraspinatus/teres minor traction tendonitis. These clinical findings correlated with cadaver prosection observations.
authors.affiliation: McMahon/Saddledome Sports Medicine Clinics, Calgary, Alberta.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Littke
mesh_terms: D000174:Acromion; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D012399:Rotation; D012782:Shoulder / Q000473:pathology; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D013177:Sports; D013710:Tendons / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology