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Archery is an ancient activity. It started out of necessity. Man was not fleet of foot enough to catch many of the protein rich creatures that scurried about. In order to get these creatures we had to develop a method to reach them from a distance. Throwing rocks and sticks at the animals worked, although it was often ineffective and difficult, and range was still limited. When someone finally strung a line (probably some form of animal innards or hide) between the two ends of a stick and launched another straight stick from it, archery was born. If you’re looking to improve your archery or just seeking to prevent archery injuries it is important to follow the information in this article. In addition, making stretching a part of your fitness regime will have a significant impact. To get you started on a safe and effective stretching routine learn more about The Stretching Handbook and how it can improve your fitness.
The early bows were smaller and made of flexible wood. It is believed that the draw weights were fairly light. Around 3500 BC, the Egyptians developed the first long bows. These were as tall as a man and were constructed of strong wood and horns. These, also, were the earliest composite bows. The bow has gone through many changes, including the advent of the composite materials to make the bows stronger and more powerful. The long bow added range, as well as the ability to shoot multiple arrows at once. The crossbow added an additional dimension to archery. The downfall for archery came with the discovery of gunpowder and the rise in popularity of guns. The bow and arrow were not needed, in industrialized societies, for protection or survival. The gun gained prominence in the military for its destructive power and range. Military bowmen were replaced with sharpshooters. Some countries still used archers in smaller numbers and positions even after the development of the gun. Kalmuck mounted archers gave Napoleon’s troops a lot of trouble as they tried to invade Russia. The U.S. Army used a detachment of archers in several actions in Asia during World War Two. Many kings in the 16th century tried to preserve the archery tradition by hosting tournaments, as part of large public festivals. They offered prizes to the winners. They even developed regulations and laws to protect archers. Archery groups were formed to support and protect archers, as well. This was the beginning of the sport of archery. It moved from a skill of necessity to a skill of sport. The early English competitions spread to the colonies. Unlike some other sports, many peasants were skilled in archery. Bow hunting was still popular among poachers in the King’s forest. Early contests were simple target shooting contests. There are three basic types of archery contests; target archery, with targets spaced at varying distances on a groomed field, clout archery, which involves shooting an arrow high into the air so it will come down on a target lying on the ground, and field archery, which simulates hunting, with targets of varying size and shape scattered about an non-groomed field. Target archery is the version used in international and Olympic competition. It started in the Olympics in 1900 but quickly fell out of favor due to lack of international rules, so each Olympic year the rules changed according to the hosting country. In 1931, the Federation Internationale de Tir a l’Arc (FITA) was formed as the international governing body for archery. Then in 1972, after adoption of FITA rules by most countries, it was re-introduced into the Olympic Games. Anatomy Involved The major muscles used by the archer include:
A good overall strengthening program to keep the muscles strong and flexible will keep the archer on target for a long time. Most Common Archery Injuries Although archery has a low reported incidence of injury associated with it, there is some risk. The archer may fall victim to rotator cuff injuries, tendonitis in the elbow, wrist, or shoulder, contusions, and impalement (although very rare.)
Injury Prevention Strategies
The Top 3 Archery Stretches Below are 3 of the most beneficial stretches for archery. Obviously there are a lot more, but these are a great place to start. Please make special note of the instructions beside each stretch.
The above 3 stretches are just a small sample of stretching exercises that will help you improve your performance and eliminate archery injuries.
Together they include over 130 clear photographs and 40 videos of every possible stretching exercise, for every major muscle group in your body. The Stretching Handbook & DVD will show you, step-by-step, how to perform each stretch EXACTLY! Plus, you'll learn the benefits of flexibility; the 7 critical rules for safe stretching; and how to stretch properly. Discover more about The Stretching Handbook & DVD here. If you enjoyed this issue of The Stretching & Sports Injury Report, please feel free to forward it to others, make it available for download from your site or post it on forums for others to read. Please make sure the following paragraph and URL are included. -----------------------------------------------------------
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Archery quickly found favor in warfare. It allowed armies to attack from greater distances and from hidden, and protected, locations. The equipment, and their uses, has changed over the centuries. Stone arrowheads have been found in Africa as early as 25,000 BC, with many speculating at its beginnings around 40,000 BC (although some of these "arrowheads" may have been spear tips.) The fire hardened arrow points, flint-tipped arrows, and feathered arrow shafts came on the scene a few thousand years later.
Archery is a non contact sport that does not subject the body to a lot of violent impact. With the exception of an errant bolt, there are very few dangers of traumatic injury for the archer. The repetitive motion involved in practice and competition does, however, put the archer at risk for repetitive strain injuries.
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