You can make an effective shoulder sling from a triangular bandage, a scarf, a bedsheet, or even the shirt on your back. The goal is to support your forearm with your elbow bent at a 90-degree angle, keeping the weight off your injured shoulder while holding your arm snug against your body. Here’s how to do it with different materials.
Getting the Position Right
Before you reach for any material, get the injured arm into the correct position. Sit or stand upright and hold the injured arm across your chest so the elbow is bent at 90 degrees, roughly a right angle. Your palm should face your body, and your hand should sit at about the same height as your elbow or slightly above it. This position takes stress off the shoulder joint and keeps blood flowing normally to your hand and fingers.
One detail that’s easy to miss: your wrist needs full support. If your wrist hangs past the edge of whatever material you use, it can press on the nerve that runs along the outer forearm and cause numbness in your hand. Make sure the sling cradles your wrist completely.
Triangular Bandage Sling
A triangular bandage is the standard first aid option. You can buy one in most first aid kits, or make your own by cutting a square piece of fabric (about 40 inches on each side) diagonally in half. A pillowcase, bandana, or bedsheet works fine.
Start by holding the injured arm in position across your chest. Spread the triangle open and slide it between your arm and your chest, with one long point draped over your uninjured shoulder and the triangle’s tip hanging down past your elbow. Now take the bottom corner of the bandage, bring it up and over your forearm, and tie it to the upper corner behind your neck. Use a flat reef knot (left over right, then right over left) so it sits comfortably and won’t dig in. Finally, fold the flap of fabric at your elbow forward and secure it with tape, a safety pin, or by tucking it in. The sling should cradle your entire forearm from elbow to wrist with no gaps.
Improvised Slings From Clothing
If you don’t have a bandage or fabric square, common clothing works surprisingly well.
Hooded Jacket Method
If you’re wearing a jacket with a hood, tuck the elbow of your injured arm into the hood. Then bring the jacket sleeves up and tie them together over your opposite shoulder. The hood acts as a pouch that holds the elbow in place while the tied sleeves bear the weight.
Jacket Sleeve Method
Put on a zip-up jacket and slide the elbow of your injured arm into one of the sleeves. This naturally bends your elbow and brings your hand up toward your chest. Zip the jacket closed (you may need help with this), and the jacket itself becomes the sling. This is one of the most stable improvised options because the jacket wraps around your whole torso.
Extra Shirt Method
Take a second shirt and pull it over your head so it hangs loosely around your neck like a wide necklace. If your right arm is injured, reach your right hand underneath this hanging shirt and push it down through the left sleeve opening. Tuck your right elbow into the right sleeve opening. Gather any extra fabric and tuck it snugly around your elbow. The shirt creates a fabric cradle suspended from your neck, much like a traditional sling.
With any improvised sling, consider wrapping an extra layer around your torso and the slung arm to keep everything from shifting. An elastic bandage, a belt, or even tape works for this. The less your arm moves, the less pain you’ll feel and the lower the risk of further injury.
Choosing the Right Sling Height
Not every shoulder or arm injury calls for the same sling position. A standard sling holds your forearm roughly parallel to the ground at 90 degrees, which is appropriate for most shoulder injuries, upper arm fractures, and elbow injuries. If the injury is to your hand, wrist, or lower forearm, you want the hand elevated higher, closer to your opposite shoulder. This “high sling” or elevation sling reduces swelling by keeping the injured area above heart level. To achieve it, simply shorten the strap or tie it tighter so your hand rests near your collarbone rather than at waist height.
Making It Comfortable for Longer Wear
A sling that digs into your neck will create a second problem on top of the first. The knot or strap sits on one side of your neck and carries the full weight of your arm, so padding matters. Place a folded washcloth, sock, or any soft material between the strap and your skin. Position it on the side of your neck where the strap makes the most contact, not directly over the spine.
If your neck starts aching, the strap is probably too tight. Loosen it just slightly, a little at a time, until the pressure eases. You’re looking for a balance: tight enough to hold the 90-degree elbow angle, loose enough that the strap doesn’t cut into your neck. The forearm should rest in the sling without you actively holding it up, but the hand shouldn’t droop below the elbow.
Checking Circulation
A sling that’s wrapped too tightly can cut off blood flow to your hand. Check your fingers every 30 minutes or so by looking for these warning signs:
- Color change: Fingertips that look pale, blue, or white compared to your other hand
- Temperature: Fingers that feel noticeably cold
- Numbness or tingling: A “pins and needles” feeling or loss of sensation
- Slow refill: Press a fingernail firmly for a few seconds until the nail bed turns white, then release. The pink color should return within two seconds. If it takes longer, blood flow is restricted.
If you notice any of these signs, loosen the sling immediately and reposition your arm. Numbness or tingling that doesn’t resolve after loosening the sling warrants urgent medical attention.
Signs the Injury Needs More Than a Sling
A sling is a temporary measure to reduce pain and prevent further damage while you get proper care. Certain symptoms mean the injury is beyond what a sling alone can manage:
- Visible deformity: A bump, dip, or unnatural angle around the shoulder or arm
- Complete inability to move: You can’t move your arm or shoulder at all, even slightly
- Feeling of instability: The shoulder feels like it could pop out of the socket
- Significant swelling, heat, or bruising: Discoloration spreading around the shoulder
- Numbness or tingling in your fingers: Especially if it started at the time of injury, not from the sling
Any of these warrants a trip to urgent care or an emergency room. And if shoulder pain comes alongside chest tightness, jaw pain, or difficulty breathing, call emergency services immediately, as these can signal a heart attack rather than an orthopedic injury.