Casting Shoulder

[BassThumb]

I get mild to moderate tennis elbow towards the end of the season. It's even worse since I started musky fishing and tossing 4-6oz baits hundreds of times per trip. 

 

What's helped me limit the discomfort, at least in terms of bass fishing, is to learn how to cast ambidextrously when able. That's been super helpful. I still do precision casts and roll casts right-handed (my dominant side), but I bomb cast using my left more often that not. No more ice packs or tennis elbow braces. I don't see why this wouldn't benefit the shoulder as well. Both arms bear the strains equally.

 

I'll second the advice of numerous posters. Ignore the Internet medical advice; it's just a basic guideline, at best. No qualifications are needed to post here and pretend to be an expert. Go to your primary care provider and get an orthopedics consult. Visit the ortho docs and get an MRI of that shoulder. It'll likely cost you a couple hundred unfortunately. You might be a candidate for minimally invasive procedures, like a lubricant/steroid injection or arthroscopic surgery, rather than completely wearing it out and needing major surgery.

 

Look at it like your truck. Preventative maintenance is better than an engine rebuild.

[WRB]

I have .been casting heavy lures for decades in both fresh and salt water without any elbow issues. The key to taking stress off the shoulder, elbow and wrist is proper casting mechanics. The proper bait casting or conventional reel mechanics starts with your reel position with the spool perpendicular to the water surface, thumb pointed t your ear and the reel handle up not sideways. Next your elbow should never raise like a baseball through, it should remain by your side. Let the rod luacnh the lure, don't try to over power the cast.

Do these few simple things and your arm joints will not be over stressed.

Tom

[geo g]

Learn how to roll cast and don't worry about distance.  This is easy on the joints.

[WRB]

1 hour ago, geo g said:

Learn how to roll cast and don't worry about distance.  This is easy on the joints.

You can't roll cast using incorrect mechanics, you make a circular wrist movement.

I use this casting technique in lieu of pitching.

Tom

[schplurg]

I switched to left-handed fishing and casting.

 

I have tendinitis and a few other things in my right arm. I cast my baitcaster lefty, never actually tried it right handed. My spinning rod is also set up lefty but I still cast it right-handed, though I can do it either way. It's just awkward with the bail, but only a little.

 

Casting the opposite arm is easier if you're just using wrists and elbows and snapping it rather than a big body motion type of cast. My main problem with pain though was holding the rod in my right hand, not casting.

 

I also take breaks, wear compression bands near my elbow, ice it in the morning before I go out, and I have a right-handed spinner if I need to switch for some reason.

 

I don't take anything for pain. Ibuprofen for swelling, yes. I like to feel the pain so I know when I'm doing damage. Pain or discomfort = stop.

 

Take breaks and bring something to do during them. Set a phone alarm to remind you to stop every 20 minutes or whatever otherwise you may not do it.

[BuzzHudson19c]

If fishing is causing any type of physical pain, you need to get stronger. Thats not a sleight, just advice. Strength building is injury prevention.