An arm, shoulder, or collar bone injury is not incapacitating, but it needs tender care for a full recovery to be made. An arm sling was built to serve this purpose. By immobilizing the area around the injury, your body can work its healing magic and in time, the functionality can be restored. It matters the kind of arm sling you go for. Certainly arm slings are not made equal. While their purpose is shared, the comfort levels offered are different.
You need not settle for the hospital-issued sling if you find it has any number of undesirable characteristics. Your main take away from the hospital should be how to wear the sling, and how long to do so. Otherwise, you can buy one that is more ergonomic and comfortable.
An Assortment of Options
A cursory search for arm slings will reveal to you just how many designs there are. They are built based on the part of the upper body that they are to offer support to, the height of the sling, and the level of support they are to give. With the options being so abundant, how do you navigate through them all?
Design
The best arm sling should have an ergonomic built. It should conform to your shoulder to offer the greatest achievable comfort. Other characteristics, such as one hand adjustment and thumb loops are desirable.
Size
Your upper body build will determine the size of the sling to get. Ideally you want something that fits your arm as if it was custom-built for it. It should be comfortable for your arm to sit in without restricting circulation. The best ones offer an adjustable height. They are designed for either right or left hands, although universal ones are easy to find.
Material, Padding
The construction of the sling can employ any number of materials. Simpler designs use mesh fabric for better ventilation while others come with higher quality materials that emphasize on comfort. The strap should be well padded, as it will bear the weight of your arm entirely. The strap that distributes the weight evenly across your shoulder is the best. It should offer some degree of ventilation as well.
The cost should also be considered too. Arm slings are not inherently expensive, but deluxe options tend to be a little on the higher side.
An ergonomic arm sling will take away the distress as you recover from your injury, or surgical procedure. While it won’t make people stop asking about what happened to your arm, it will, at the very least, make you comfortable enough not to be annoyed by them. Remember to wear your sling as instructed by your caregiver.