I am planning on attending a BC in June with Lawdog and downloaded The Rifle Marksmanship vids as well as the pdf in preparation. After watching the vids I began to attempt to copy their motions moving through the four firing positions but I am having some difficulty. I am recovering from knee surgery ACL replacement and minicus repair, having to be preformed because of a fall.
Are there certain exercises or stretches that I can preform to allow more and a smoother range of motion to obtain proper shooting position? Any other shooters out there have knee problems? If so how do you over come them?
Going to take the vids to my surgeon this week and see if he can recommend something.
I am open to suggestions and have atleast 2 months before i can go back to work at the firestation so in that time I wanted to practice daily.
Just to take a little pressure off you - You don't have to get into any position that's painful for you. The last thing we want to do is jeopardize your health and well being or the safety of you or those around you.
That being said, the first couple Appleseeds, none of us are comfortable! Be sure you talk it over with your doctor and do whatever stretches/PT you're supposed to do and if you have about two months, you'll probably be able to do most of the stuff we teach. Prone should be pretty easy for you and we have several different sitting/kneeling variations so you'll be able to find the one that works for you. Standing should be a piece of cake.
We have folks come out who are missing limbs, in wheelchairs, bad knees, bad backs, etc., and we teach 'em to shoot right along with everyone else. The beauty of shooting is you find what works for you and you do it. At our events, there's no pressure to do it our way. We'll show you how we do it, but by all means, do what works for you.
Shane:
Slim is spot on. If it hurts your knee, we will work around the issue. On the other hand, I recommend to everyone that they start stretching their lower back and hamstrings well before an event. For most people, it has been a long time since they sat cross-legged. That is the start of the most stable seated firing position. If you can get stretched out in advance, the Monday following an event feels so much better!
LD
Go with your surgeons advice, we will work around your needs
Relax, have fun, learn
Best of luck!
I have five bad disc in my low back. Nerve damage has taken my knees out. We worked together at my early Appleseeds and found positions that worked for me.
I'm sure that you can do it. Just don't push yourself too hard. The idea is to learn and have fun in doing so. ;)
Thanks guys, success favors the prepared is my motto so just thinking ahead! I had part of my hamstrings harvested to replace my ACL and have them stretched out pretty good lol but the kneeling position was just giving me fits!
I will let yall know what my surgeon says about the stretches and exercise for those moves. I figured there were others with a similar issue.
Quote from: shane on March 05, 2012, 03:08:15 PM
Thanks guys, success favors the prepared is my motto so just thinking ahead! I had part of my hamstrings harvested to replace my ACL and have them stretched out pretty good lol but the kneeling position was just giving me fits!
I will let yall know what my surgeon says about the stretches and exercise for those moves. I figured there were others with a similar issue.
The kneeling position is one of 4 possible sitting positions. It is an option, so if another sitting position works for you then just go with that instead. Some folks can't get into the cross-legged position, so the cross-ankled or open-legged sitting positions may work better for them.
Personally I have had shoulder and back issues at my first Appleseed that didn't allow me to shoot prone, so I did all of my "prone" shooting in the cross-legged sitting position. I barely shot a rifleman score (210) without shooting prone at all, but now I am finally healed enough to where I can start to shoot from the prone position (and my scores have improved as a result).
Appleseed isn't a boot camp. Our instructors are knowledgeable and patient and will gladly work with you to improve your rifle marksmanship without injuring you.
- ShadowMan
Hi Shane,
First see what you surgeon and sadist ;) I mean physical therapist suggest.
I use Pushing Yourself to Power by John Peterson. See if you can find it in the library and try it out.
Here is the link to Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Pushing-Yourself-Power-Ultimate-Transformation/dp/1932458018
this happens quite often actually. it's best if you can get in the positions taught as they are the most stable but it's not a deal breaker if you can't. the instructors will works around it and help you out to get the most out of what you can do.
The PT said absolutely zero twisting of the knee and said not to perform the sitting cross legged position till 10 weeks after surgery however he did like the alternative cross ankle position. He mentioned that stretching the hamstrings even further to allow your elbows to set past your knees. All the other positions are good to go. He was happy to see someone enjoying stretching even if it were to be a better rifleman!
Quote from: shane on March 13, 2012, 10:13:26 PM
He mentioned that stretching the hamstrings even further to allow your elbows to set past your knees. All the other positions are good to go. He was happy to see someone enjoying stretching even if it were to be a better rifleman!
Now this sounds like a new way to get more folks to AS... Need physical therapy? Come to a shoot! Stretch out those muscles! ;D
Quote from: Barbie on March 13, 2012, 10:31:28 PM
Quote from: shane on March 13, 2012, 10:13:26 PM
He mentioned that stretching the hamstrings even further to allow your elbows to set past your knees. All the other positions are good to go. He was happy to see someone enjoying stretching even if it were to be a better rifleman!
Now this sounds like a new way to get more folks to AS... Need physical therapy? Come to a shoot! Stretch out those muscles! ;D
that's thinking outside of the box for sure :)