LEO Shoulder Problems

[AZCharlie]

I'm aware that LEO's can develop a shoulder problem because of keeping their gun hand/arm held out away from the body. I am a novelist trying to include this as a problem for a character. I don't have a name for this and cannot find any information about it. My questions are:

1. Is there a name for this condition?
2. How is it treated?
3. How does it develop and how long before symptoms appear?

[retdetsgt]

I never heard of such a thing. My gun was big, but not that big......

[Sgt. Slaughter]

I would suggest seeing a physical therapist or an orthopedic surgeon.

[Samuel]

I never heard of such a thing.

+1 here... :confused:

Just write about lower back problems...

[Cat_Doc]

I never heard of such a thing.

+1. I've been doing this a few years, but I've never heard of such a thing, either.

But, I have seen bull riders that walk around with a funny arc with one of their arms. They could be wearing a three piece suit and I would know they rode rodeo.

Maybe the OP heard about a ex-bull rider who became a police officer?

[retdetsgt]

But, I have seen bull riders that walk around with a funny arc with one of their arms. They could be wearing a three piece suit and I would know they rode rodeo.

I think that's from the brain damage....

[Big_Montana]

I've not heard of this either, and actually as a force of habbit when talking to people i actually have a tendancy to rest my forearms across my firearm, mace and ASP usually with my fingers just barley touching dirrectly over my belt buckle, and i know a lot of cops who do this, good bad or indifferent i think in my mind it gives me quick acess to whatever i need and keeps anyone from trying to disarm me. the saftey lock on my holster was also disengaged by backwards motion so i could do that with my forearm before i ever even put my hand on my gun.

The well documented trait that comes from having a gun on your hip for 20+ years is lower back and hip problems stemming from the weight day in and day out on one side, i don't know that there's a name for that either, but it's way more common than this hand away from the holster thing that sounds kind of 'old west' to me.

[Creeker]

I'm aware that LEO's can develop a shoulder problem because of keeping their gun hand/arm held out away from the body. I am a novelist trying to include this as a problem for a character. I don't have a name for this and cannot find any information about it. My questions are:

1. Is there a name for this condition?
2. How is it treated?
3. How does it develop and how long before symptoms appear?

I've never heard of a name for it, never heard of a treatment for it, and believe the only reason someone might have difficulty with it is due to the type of holster that is worn.... and maybe body shape.:confused:

For several years when I was starting out and still carried a revolver, I wore a Bianchi Hurricane(?) break front. I carried a Ruger Service Six in .357 cal and put a pair of Pachmyer grips on it.

As I walked, I had to flex my arm on my pistol side to keep from knocking my wrist into the pistol butt. If there was much walking involved, by the end of the day I had an aching shoulder.

I kind of assumed it was a problem that most Cops learned how to overcome and endure without bitching about... like which side of your back you carried your single pair of handcuffs, how many keepers it took to hold your belt in place, how big of a flashlight was big enough and where do you carry it along with the PR-24 (pre-extended version) while you are driving your car.

A different Holster (and Agency) eliminated the "Half Ape" problem.

At that time in my life I was in pretty good shape, but I don't think I had the same physique as some of these cowboys. :yup:

[retdetsgt]

Thinking about it, when I worked uniform, I slid my gun back just a tad from mid center on my belt when I stood up so I could drop my arm while I was standing. I recall pulling it towards the front again when I sat down. It was such a habit that I had forgotten about it.

[greg72982]

My shoulders are OK but my lower back has some discomfort issues. It just always feels like it needs stretched or something, it's not really pain. Guess that goes along with gettin old.

[retdetsgt]

My shoulders are OK but my lower back has some discomfort issues. It just always feels like it needs stretched or something, it's not really pain. Guess that goes along with gettin old.

That's from wearing a gun belt all the time plus sitting in a police car so much. The seats in police cars aren't designed like the seats in semi tractors where the seats are built for people to sit in all day long. I've always thought that someone should create and sell a good driver's seat for police cars, taxi's, etc where people spend so much time.

But as I said, all the stuff you carry on your gun belt takes a toll to on your back.

[greg72982]

That's from wearing a gun belt all the time plus sitting in a police car so much. The seats in police cars aren't designed like the seats in semi tractors where the seats are built for people to sit in all day long. I've always thought that someone should create and sell a good driver's seat for police cars, taxi's, etc where people spend so much time.

But as I said, all the stuff you carry on your gun belt takes a toll to on your back.

Yeah that's what I figured...could a chiropractor remedy that?

[Sgt. Slaughter]

It'll help, but so will stretching during your shift. Stretch at least two or three times.

[retdetsgt]

It'll help, but so will stretching during your shift. Stretch at least two or three times.

Yep. Turn as far to the right and then the left, then back and forward will help some.

I found working out several times a week in the gym did more than anything. You don't have to lift heavy weights and try to bulk up a lot, just do a lot of reps. That might also keep your heart from exploding down the road when you're old, like 35 or 40......

It takes up some time, but after a while, you'll feel guilty if you don't do it and you will feel better. It's also good for some stress relief too.

(Don't pay attention to the young wimmen wearing tights and hanging around the workout machines though)

[Creeker]

...(Don't pay attention to the young wimmen wearing tights and hanging around the workout machines though)

Did you forget who you were talking to? :uhoh::shuffle: