Sore back after range session

[LumberZach]

Hey all,

I had a real good time at Burnsville tonight, but brings up a theme that has been recurring the past few times I spend a full hour at Burnsville. My back gets sore. Do any of you guys have that issue? I am not exactly that old either, but it is clearly from holding a weight out in front of my body for an extended period of time. You guys know any good ways of dealing with this, being exercise or otherwise?

[xd ED]

Click on Image

I got curious about this women's workouts during one of the PBS pledge drives.
Found the dvd pretty cheap on eBay.

Whatever you do, it's a combination of stretching, core stabilizing, and strengthening the lower back/ lumbar regions that needs to be done, If you got a big belly, loosing that will help.
If workouts don't fix it, see a back orthopedist sooner than later.

[jshuberg]

It's not unusual to have a bit of soreness after a day of shooting, like during an 8 hour class. One hour at the range shouldn't cause any noticeable back pain unless your shooting an extremely heavy hand cannon.

Without watching you shoot, I'd guess that you're excessively tense when you shoot. You don't need to be, and in fact bracing against the recoil is *not* the best way to handle recoil. It's better to lean into it, and allow the recoil energy to transfer through your skeletal system from your hands to your body core. The only muscular strength required is that necessary to hold the gun out in front of you. Any additional muscle tension will simply lead to poor performance and to muscle fatigue.

If you feel yourself tensing up, do a little loosen up dance between strings. Listen to Pink Floyd under your muffs, or whatever helps you from becoming tense. Your back should be relaxed, and in a muscle neutral position. The only tension should be moderate hand tension, and a slight inward rotation of the hands from the elbows/shoulders.

If it's not the result of excess muscle tension, you may have another problem in your back that is aggravated by shooting.

[photogpat]

Standing on concrete for long periods of time does that to me...Dr Scholls!

[Seismic Sam]

Just shoot a S&W 500 one handed for 100 rounds and you will never notice your back!!

[OldmanFCSA]

I always get a sore back when shooting - well not so much from shooting - but carrying and setting up my 48 pound target rifle.
I will be at OGC about 10AM if anyone wants to help by carrying it for me.



I might let you shoot it - but will be testing loads today over chronograph.

808 grain brass solids
800 grain brass solids coated in tungsten disulfide.
235 238 240 241 242 244 246 248 and 250 grain powder loadings.

Will be a BLAST -------- literally (50BMG).

[dleong]

Don't feel you have to stand all the time; use the chairs at the back of the shooting bay to occasionally sit down and take the strain off your feet and back. You could, for example, load your magazines while sitting down. I've also found that moving around helps reduce back strain--take short breaks from your shooting and walk out to the lobby to refresh yourself at the water cooler.

[ex-LT]

If you feel yourself tensing up, do a little loosen up dance between strings.

You mean something like this?

[xd ED]

Just wouldn't be the same....




and thanks for sharing...

[collateral]

+1 on slight bend to the knees and a slight forward tilt to your upper body. You should not lean backward.

Also it can't hurt to see a chiropractor!

[Rodentman]

I use the chair all the time at BPR. Now that it's summer and I wear shorts and people see my leg, or lack thereof, I usually find a few quarters in my ammo carrier when I am ready to leave.

[photogpat]

I was on concrete from 7am til 5pm today. I tried the new Dr Scholls "Gel Athletic Insert" good lord...no foot or back problems at all...I'm hooked. They're going in all my work boots, dress shoes, etc....