Not sure if this falls under "form", but it certainly will effect my shooting.
I usually shoot two arrows every morning before going to work.
Last Saturday I killed a buck at sunset and had a short bloodtrail. All good. Sunday I was putting away the tractor and recalled the night before the headlights stopped working, so I left it running (HUGE MISTAKE!) and went forward to investigate. I spotted a mouse nest and loose wire, figuring the insulation may have been chewed and shorted I followed the wire with my fingers . . . ZING.
Nine hours later I left the hospital with the ring finger of my right hand in a temporary dressing until I could meet with a plastic surgeon and ostro-surgeon to determine if I'd keep all of that finger.
Happily I have seen all and been prodded by all and I am now in a plastic sheath/splint and have circulation and a full length finger (barring infection or the bone tip not refusing). Prognosis is excellent for a regular finger "in two years".
Anyway, I mentioned I wanted to keep as much as possible because I am an archer & bowhunter. The osteo dr. raised one eyebrow and said "That may not be someting you want to try until Spring." Or a similar quote thereabouts.
So, in the mean time, have any of you sufferred a finger injury and what did you do to rebuild strength and lessen sensitivity. I got out my lowest # bow (45# @ 28") and, even with the finger splint, the pressure on the fingertip was "unpleasant". The bone was severed RIGHT where I hook the string.
I am confident I will eventually get there but I'm fishing for ideas. Carry paint pails? Squeeze tennis balls? Practice shooting left-handed? Get a 25" target bow?
All thoughts welcome (and yes, a head slap for being so stupid as to stick my hand into a running tractor fan is welcome as well).
Sorry to hear about your accident. I'd take docs advise.
You might be able to draw a bow without using your ring-finger (I do it sometimes, 2 finger-split), but if it causes you discomfort I wouldn't do it. Not worth it IMO. Wait until doc gives the ok, then just start with a light bow. just my $0.02
I would second the advice about trying 2 under, which many people use even when they don't have to. You would have been much worse off, archery-wise, if it had been either of the other two fingers you use to draw the bow.
45# is not all that light if you're trying to recover from an injury. If it were me, I would consider buying a Samick Sage for about $130 retail in a 25# draw weight. You can have a lot of fun with a bow like that if you shoot 1616 or 1716 arrows. I have several bows around that weight for my grandchildren and students. I shoot them fairly often myself, in order to be sure that I won't look too bad if I'm asked to demo one of them for a student.
Another suggestion would be to shoot left-handed for a while. I'm sure your injured finger would bother you less if it were on your bow-hand.
Sorry to hear of your accident. I've have a couple in the last 3 years, a couple of torn tricep tendons and one was in a tractor accident. For my education, what got the finger? Fanbelt, fanblade?
Agree with McDave. Forget hunting weight. You want to rehab your hand with a 20-25# bow. I keep several from 20, 30, 38# just for the grandkids but I've rehabbed myself with them.
It was the fan blade. Big 'ol 1/8" thick steel 1956 fan with no guard. The plastic surgeon asked the nurse whether it was a pinch or a crush injury. It doesn't look like a cut. Yuck.
Hadn't thought about two fingers under.
Keep the ideas coming. I like the excuse to buy a target bow. I used to shoot target in college.
When I got a temporary right-hand injury, I thought I'd try shooting left handed. At first it was really awkward, but now I can shoot better lefty than righty. I say if it doesn't hurt or aggravate the injury, you might want to try shooting lefty.