Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsReasons NeededTypesHow to WearDaily TasksMistakes
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Reasons Needed
Types
How to Wear
Daily Tasks
Mistakes
After an injury to yourshoulder,elbow, arm, orwrist, you might need to wear a sling to protect it while you’re healing.
A shoulder sling keeps your arm against your body and prevents you from moving it too much. However, if you wear a shoulder sling the wrong way, you might slow healing or injure your arm more.
This article goes over why you might need a shoulder sling, how to wear one correctly, and common mistakes to avoid when wearing a sling.
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Common Reasons for a Shoulder Sling
Common reasons for needing to wear a sling include:
How Long Will I Be in a Sling?A shoulder sling is generally used for between four and six weeks after a surgery or injury. Your provider will give you an idea of the expected the timeline for your recovery.
How Long Will I Be in a Sling?
A shoulder sling is generally used for between four and six weeks after a surgery or injury. Your provider will give you an idea of the expected the timeline for your recovery.
Types of Shoulder Slings
There are a few different kinds of shoulder slings. The one you’ll have to wear will depend on why you need it.
Examples of shoulder sling types include:
If you can’t move your injured arm or shoulder at all, you may need to be in animmobilizerinstead of a sling. It’s similar to a sling but keeps your arm closer to your body and has bands that go around your chest, arm, and wrist.
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How to Wear Your Shoulder Sling
1:19Click Play to Learn How to Wear a Sling
1:19
Click Play to Learn How to Wear a Sling
To put on a shoulder sling the right way:
Your shoulder sling should fit comfortably and not feel tight. It should keep your shoulder, elbow, and wrist in a relaxed position as you go about your day-to-day life.
Daily Tasks With a Sling
Going about your usual daily life with a sling can be challenging and you’ll need to ask others for help and support during your recovery.
Here are a few tips for going about your daily life while you’re wearing a sling.
Personal Care
Right after an injury or surgery, you may need someone to help you with washing up and dressing, especially if you’re still in pain and trying to get used to wearing a sling.
Once you’re a little more confident about taking care of these tasks on your own, you may need to practice using your non-dominant arm to do things like brush your teeth if it’s your dominant side that is recovering.
Getting Around
You will not be able to drive or ride a bicycle while you’re wearing a sling, so you’ll need to rely on other people to get to your appointments or go to the store.
If you have stairs at home, be very careful going up and down. Your balance might be a little off when you’re in a sling. Use the banister with your non-injured hand to keep yourself steady and safe.
Chores and Errands
As with other tasks, you’ll need help doing things around the house that require lifting and pulling, such as making beds and bringing groceries in.
As you start healing, you might find that some tasks (like vacuuming) can be done one-handed using the arm that’s not healing. However, be careful and avoid doing anything too strenuous or that could put you in danger (e.g., falling, burning yourself in the kitchen, etc.).
If you can, have groceries delivered or have someone pick them up for you. If surgery is planned, do as much shopping and cooking as you can beforehand.
Eating
You might find eating anything that requires utensils too challenging if your dominant arm is in the sling. It can also be tricky to lift a cup to your mouth for a drink.
Using straws and sticking to meals and snacks that don’t necessarily require too much handiwork can help until you’re able to start using your other hand again.
Sleeping
You do need to wear your sling to bed because it’s important to keep your arm from moving while you sleep. Ask your provider orphysical therapistif you can loosen the sling a bit while you’re laying down.
You may find it easier to sleep sitting up in a chair or propped up with pillows in your bed while you have to wear a sling.
If you have not been able to sleep in the sling despite trying different positions, ask your provider if you could take it off at night.
When Can I Take Off My Sling?As your arm gets better and stronger, you may not need to wear your sling all the time. How long you’ll have to wear a sling will depend on your injury and how you’re healing. You can discuss the timeline with your provider or physical therapist.As your healing progresses, your provider will let you know if there are times that you can take your sling off. For example, you might be able to take off your sling to:BatheDressDo physical therapy exercisesBend and straighten your elbow and move your fingers a few times a day
When Can I Take Off My Sling?
As your arm gets better and stronger, you may not need to wear your sling all the time. How long you’ll have to wear a sling will depend on your injury and how you’re healing. You can discuss the timeline with your provider or physical therapist.As your healing progresses, your provider will let you know if there are times that you can take your sling off. For example, you might be able to take off your sling to:BatheDressDo physical therapy exercisesBend and straighten your elbow and move your fingers a few times a day
As your arm gets better and stronger, you may not need to wear your sling all the time. How long you’ll have to wear a sling will depend on your injury and how you’re healing. You can discuss the timeline with your provider or physical therapist.
As your healing progresses, your provider will let you know if there are times that you can take your sling off. For example, you might be able to take off your sling to:
Common Mistakes When Wearing a Shoulder Sling
Common mistakes that people make when wearing a shoulder sling can cause discomfort and slowthe healing process. Your provider or physical therapist can help you avoid making these mistakes.
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
The Sling Is Too Loose
The shoulder sling should keep your elbow at a 90-degree angle. A sling that is too loose will cause the arm to hang too low or even straighten.
This position doesn’t give your shoulder, elbow, and wrist the support they need. Without it, the weight of your arm puts stress and strain on your arm and shoulder as they are healing.
Your arm may also suddenly fall out of the sling if it’s hanging too low.
The sling should support your arm firmly against your body without lifting it. Your shoulder should be in a stable, neutral position (not higher or lower than normal).
If you’re not sure if the sling is too tight or too lose, ask your provider or physical therapist to check it for you.
The Shoulder Sling Is Too Tight
A shoulder sling that’s too tight can limit blood flow to and from your elbow and hand. If blood isn’t getting to your arm, it’s not getting oxygen to your tissues, which can cause damage and impede healing.
Ask your provider or physical therapist to adjust your sling if your arm, hand, or fingers:
The goal of wearing a shoulder sling is to protect your shoulder and arm as it heals. However, you should still use some of the muscles of your arm and hand during your recovery.
The sling is designed to limit your shoulder mobility, so it can decrease your arm’srange of motion(ROM) and strength. However, there are steps you can take to avoid that.
During your recovery, your provider may tell you to take off the sling and do some no-impact pendulum circle exercises two to three times a day. These movements help keep your joints mobile.
Handgrip exercises with therapy putty provide resistance and can help your wrist and forearm get stronger.
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Summary
Wearing a shoulder sling helps your arm or shoulder heal after an upper-body injury or surgery. You also may need to wear a sling after a stroke or if you have an elbow or shoulder fracture.
It’s important to wear and use a sling correctly to prevent further injury and help your shoulder heal. Your sling should not be too loose or too tight, and your arm should rest comfortably next to your body at a 90-degree angle.
If you’re not sure how to wear your sling, ask your provider or PT to adjust it for you.
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4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.University of California San Francisco.Shoulder fracture.Hollman F, Wolterbeek N, Zijl JAC, van Egeraat SPM, Wessel RN.Abduction brace versus antirotation sling after arthroscopic cuff repair: the effects on pain and function.Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery. 2017;33(9):1618-1626. doi:10.1016/j.arthro.2017.02.010Johns Hopkins Medicine.Arm care after a stroke.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Using your shoulder after surgery.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.University of California San Francisco.Shoulder fracture.Hollman F, Wolterbeek N, Zijl JAC, van Egeraat SPM, Wessel RN.Abduction brace versus antirotation sling after arthroscopic cuff repair: the effects on pain and function.Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery. 2017;33(9):1618-1626. doi:10.1016/j.arthro.2017.02.010Johns Hopkins Medicine.Arm care after a stroke.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Using your shoulder after surgery.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
University of California San Francisco.Shoulder fracture.Hollman F, Wolterbeek N, Zijl JAC, van Egeraat SPM, Wessel RN.Abduction brace versus antirotation sling after arthroscopic cuff repair: the effects on pain and function.Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery. 2017;33(9):1618-1626. doi:10.1016/j.arthro.2017.02.010Johns Hopkins Medicine.Arm care after a stroke.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Using your shoulder after surgery.
University of California San Francisco.Shoulder fracture.
Hollman F, Wolterbeek N, Zijl JAC, van Egeraat SPM, Wessel RN.Abduction brace versus antirotation sling after arthroscopic cuff repair: the effects on pain and function.Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery. 2017;33(9):1618-1626. doi:10.1016/j.arthro.2017.02.010
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Arm care after a stroke.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Using your shoulder after surgery.
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