Warnings regarding ways of swinging that thing and digging... CAUTION>>>> .

[Anonymous]

It would pay you to heed this warning.
I have only been detecting for 1 1/2 years. During that time I have learned much from personal experience and this forum. What I wish I would have been informed of early is the following advice.
If you are relatively new to metal detecting you will probably pick up a few habits that you would be better served to rotate.
You may have a preference of which hand you swing that thing with and how you dig. PLEASE use caution for if you don't you may develope TENDENITIS or other repetitive motion ailments.
You would be better served to consider the following:
1. Rotate which arm you swing with for different outings or even change every hour.
2. When digging use two hands on that tool to disperse the digging pressure on either hand.
3. Some rotate type's of diggers so that the repetitive motion is changed for different outinsg.
4. A shoulder harness may serve you well.
Failure to do the same will mean trips to the doctor for cortizone shots and possible loss of detecting time.
I developed a mean case of tendenitis in my right digging arm which has finally abated to a degree. After changing digging habits, I now use two hands on all digs and rarely rip that circular plug with one hand, and one cortizone shot I have finally regained some relief from a very nasty case of tendenitis. IT IS NOT PLEASANT OR FUN....
I also change arms for swinging that thing. It only takes an hour or so to make this adjustment. It is important as well since I now have shoulder problems with my old "primary" swinging left shoulder.
I developed all of this by going out one or two days a week for 2-4 hours each trip. Now I am 58 years young but you younger TH'ers would be well to heed these warnings. Even though you may be in great shape does not mean you can not develope these problems.
If you don't think this will affect you count the number of coins you have dug. If you come back with 60 coins you have probably detected for at least 3 hours and have dug about 80 to 90 holes. Multiply that by number of outings and you will see how repetitive these motion can become. I dug over 2,400 coins last year. That is not counting the number of pull tabs and other junk that has found it's way into trash cans throughout St. Louis County... <img src="/metal/html/lol.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":lol">
My hope is that you enjoy many years of metal detecting with NO PHYSICAL AILMENTS derived from doing so.
A word to the wise from that little ole metal detector.... me... <img src="/metal/html/grin.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":grin">
HH,
Johnny B

 

[Anonymous]

Wonder in that's why my right should aches all the time ??? <img src="/metal/html/shrug.gif" border=0 width=37 height=15 alt=":shrug">

 

[Anonymous]

I've noticed fatigue in my shoulder swinging the 14" coil, although it seems to have lessened considerably since I've become used to it. I don't normally change swinging arms unless I feel that fatigue, mostly because I hang my digging tools off my left side, so if I change I have to move all my stuff around. I tend to experience quite a bit of tendonitis in my elbows (especially my right one). I've found wearing a neoprene elbow brace that covers the entire elbow - that seems to relieve the pain and keeps my elbow happy!

 

[Anonymous]

[No message]

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Johnny B., I know exactly what you are talking about. I've been suffering from tendinitis for approx. 8 yrs., very painful, and hard to heal permanently. I've been wearing a velcro strap brace for 8yrs., and my condition was not as a result of metal detecting. But, since I've been metal detecting, the arm brace has helped my condition very much. Also, I just bought a SWINGY
THINGY Harness from DOC'S COILTEK MAN in Las Vegas, Nv. Cost $29.95 + $5.00 s/h, and it arrived at my house on east coast (Delaware) in (2) days.
Item was well packaged, great illustrative instructions. DOC'S was great to deal with!
I had done some personal research before I purchased it from local fellow treasure hunters.
OLDTIMERS that SWORE BY IY! Also, they do not have an 800#, you can get their phone number from the COILTEK Block, at the beginning of the Minelab
Sovereign/Excalibur Forum. Hope this helps, lol,hh. NamVetLesTreasureSeeker

 

[Anonymous]

It got sore and stiff. I didn't want to cause or worsen a possible "rotator cuff" injury. So I basically stopped using it fully.
Well, the pain became worse so I used it even less and the next thing you know I've basically got a useless "chicken wing" at my side. Took 3 months of painful therapy and stretching to get me 80%+ of my mobility back, but I basically caused it ALL myself.
The act of not using a muscle or joint (or using a different set of muscles instead of the one intended) to prevent pain is called "Guarding". It was this guarding that caused my frozen shoulder and it all started from trying to swing too hard, too far and too long in bumby sandy terrain that brought on the intitial discomfort.
I then just made it worse and then was "afraid" to hear it might be something worse (torn cuff) so I didn't treat it early which would have caused me a lot less pain and cost me less money too!

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Art,,,Had my left shoulder cuff repaired March 16th,,,Went through therapy afterwards,,,not fun,,,now I am back swinging and also know the importance of "range of motion" but, also know that when you first note acute pain "see a Doctor",,, I waited too long too and suffered,,,best of luck to you and HH......Lon