An arrow flies toward a target in Alcoy, carrying with it a new form of physical and psychological recovery. The national “Arco y Salud” initiative has officially expanded to the city through a coordinated effort between the Club Deportivo Santa Lucía and the SOLC cancer treatment support association, pairing the technical discipline of archery directly with breast cancer rehabilitation. This activity can be practiced by anyone in general without an age margin.
The Clinical Pathway From SOLC to the Range
The Club Deportivo Santa Lucía integrated the project following discussions with SOLC, a regional association supporting cancer patients in Alcoy and the surrounding comarca. The initiative adapts archery specifically for oncology patients affected by breast cancer, with or without lymphedema. The physiotherapy department at SOLC evaluated patient profiles to determine suitability for the program, requiring participants to secure a favorable evaluation from their treating oncologist before joining.
Adapting Bow Setup to Surgical Realities
Participants face physical adjustments upon first handling equipment, as mounting the bowstring to the limbs requires flexibility that can be limited by surgical recovery. Coaches adapt movements to individual capabilities, recognizing that operations leave distinct physical marks. The technical staff at the club supervises the initial setup phase, where patients learn to grasp the bow while managing limited joint coordination and muscle memory affected by treatments. The first day is dedicated to mounting the bow and holding it tightly as if it were a foreign body.
Breathing Techniques and the Mechanics of the Draw
During practice sessions, patients work through coordination challenges by focusing on breathing, centering attention on the target, and blocking out external distractions. The movement sequence requires closing the eyes briefly, inhaling while merging with the bow and target, raising the arms, anchoring the position, and releasing the arrow.
Federation Standards and the Therapeutic Social Fabric
Alongside the athletic structure, the program fosters a therapeutic social environment among participating archers and club members, providing a distended and supportive atmosphere during training sessions. A prestigious technical specialist in this field clarified that the Federation of this sport has unified the different projects of the archery clubs and, one of the options has been to implement the regulations of bow power, shooting distance, etc.; thus creating a new category with patients who have passed or are passing a cancer process
.
Union of Mind, Body, and Self-Improvement
A sports technician associated with the discipline described archery as the union of mind and body converted into sport
, emphasizing that the experience of learning and improving yourself is perhaps more important and satisfying than the result itself; another thing is competition
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