This is a special kind of foam pillow designed specifically to help you elevate your hand/arm. This article was medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS. Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Two or three fingers should fit between your body and the strap. As you heal from an injury or surgery, you may only need it while awake, or at night, or as needed for comfort. Cut a triangle out of a piece of this cloth. If it starts to rub or irritate your skin, wear a collared shirt or put some padding between the tie and your skin. 7 Exercises to Do After a Shoulder Fracture. If needed, you may want to place clean gauze between the bandage material and the wound. It's important to use it correctly. Follow Your Doctors Instructions on When to Wear Your Sling. You can even use a shirt or coat. Cut a triangle out of a piece of this cloth. So far this method, "Thanks for posting this. Because of that, it can decrease your arm's range of motion (ROM) and strengthunless you take steps to avoid that. To make a sling, cut a piece of cloth, such as a pillowcase, about 40 inches square. You will probably start with passive exercises. Arm care after a stroke. When wearing your sling, your wrist should be elevated above your elbow. Reach around your neck and grab the strap behind your elbow. It can cut off circulation. First, find a clean, long piece of cloth or fabric that is long enough to wrap around the child's torso, and cut it in half. Your hand should be at the very end of the sling, which shouldn't cut into your wrist or hand. The sling has a universal design, can be used on either the left or right arm, and has a removable pillow that adds abduction by 10 to 15 degrees from a neutral position. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the site. They are most often used when you have a broken (fractured) or dislocated arm, elbow, or shoulder. Let the triangle dangle down the chest. Almost any hard, straight object will do. Recommended Range Of Application: Rotator cuff repairs; Anterior repairs; Posterior dislocations; Capsular shifts; Global . Making an arm sling for a child is a fairly simple process. You may find yourself in a shoulder sling for a variety of reasons. Keep your back straight and upright. You may need help with zippers or buttons, and find that snaps are easier. Seek help with the following procedure before trying it on your own: If youre in an emergency for example, if youre out camping and have limited access to resources there are other things you can use to temporarily improvise a sling. Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery. Sandbox Learning is part of Sandbox & Co., a digital learning company. References Belts, ties, sleeves ripped from shirts, twisted-up T-shirts, stockings, and even underwear can be used as slings. Then cut or fold the square diagonally to make a triangle. You should avoid housework and vigorous activities until your doctor clears it. Arm slings are commonly used to immobilize, support and protect the arm or shoulder following an injury to the shoulder, upper arm, forearm or wrist. 2 Assess the Break Rod Brouhard Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. This can put unnecessary stress and strain on your arm. An umbrella, a stout stick, a cane, a baseball bat any of these will work. 1. Medically Reviewed By William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS. The forearm rests over the pillow, keeping the shoulder slightly separated off the body. It should fit snugly around the elbow. Splints reduce pain, and help prevent further damage to muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. Adjust these ends so that your hand is higher than your elbow, then tie the ends behind your neck. In the event of an emergency, a scarf can be used to make an arm sling and slip your arm into a stylish, comfortable silk one. Instructions for Making and Putting On an Arm Sling, Dislocated shoulder, elbow, or wrist (when the bones are pulled or moved from the joint). Splint the problem finger with the adjacent finger. Common types of shoulder surgery include arthroscopy, arthroplasty, and rotator cuff repair. If your hand flopps down, your sling may be too small. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. This means you will need someone to wash your healthy arm. Insert the patient's injured arm in the stockinette so that . Wear Your Shoulder Sling Properly. 19K views 3 years ago This video shows how to make a very comfortable and stylish shoulder sling using an infinity scarf or a regular scarf. Contour Support Cervical Pillow Cryotherapy Equipment Cryotherm Neck Wrap Deluxe Arm Sling Disc Unloader Orthosis Disposable Arm Slings. Making an arm sling out of a towel is a simple process that requires few materials. Make sure your forearm is flat in the . Your sling should fit your arm comfortably, and you shouldn't be in any additional pain. With practice, you'll be able to comfortably wear itto let your arm properly and safely heal. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Remember to use your healthy arm for all daily activities. Here's an easy way to make an arm sling: See How to Prevent Muscle Cramps and Strains for more detailed information on slings, immobilization techniques, and combination bandages/slings to use on different body parts. The hand should extend just past the base of the triangle and the elbow should be supported by the corner that's opposite the base. The hand may be held down only for brief periods of time. Find a piece of cloth that is about 5 feet (1.5 meters) wide at the base and at least 3 feet (1 meter) long on the sides. Secure the pillow to the sling by reapplying the 2" x 9" mesh strap. Wearing your arm sling during waking hours will reduce the amount of swelling and soreness in your shoulder at the end of the day, making it easier to fall asleep at night. You may be able to dress normally with a mild injury. Adjust the sling so that it supports their arm all the way to the end of their little finger. If at any point while wearing a sling, you experience severe back or neck pain, see a doctor. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The Brentwood Zuma Wedge Pillow is specially designed to provide support for the upper back, head, and neck, as well as to relieve shoulder pain.It has a gradual slope that isn't too high, so you'll be able to get proper sleep without feeling like you're sitting or aggravating your lower back. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6b\/Make-a-Sling-for-Your-Arm-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Sling-for-Your-Arm-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6b\/Make-a-Sling-for-Your-Arm-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid843627-v4-728px-Make-a-Sling-for-Your-Arm-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"