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Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Sling

Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

A sling is a piece of fabric made to hold an injured part of the body, limit its movement, and relieve pain.

What are the causes and risks of the injury?

A sling can be used for many different injuries, including:

bone fractures, such as wrist fractures and collarbone fractures

shoulder injury

sprains or strains involving the shoulder, arm, or hand

The causes of risks of those conditions can be learned by reading the related articles.

Symptoms & Signs

What are the signs and symptoms of the injury?

Symptoms will vary, depending on the type of injury requiring the use of a sling. Slings are often used for injuries that involve the following symptoms:

deformity of a joint, such as the shoulder or elbow

inability to move a joint, such as the shoulder or elbow

pain in the shoulder, arm, or hand

swelling in the shoulder, arm, or hand

Diagnosis & Tests

How is the injury recognized?

The person will usually have pain, swelling, and limited movement of the injured body part.

Prevention & Expectations

What can be done to prevent the injury?

Sports safety guidelines should be followed by adults, adolescents, and children.

Treatment & Monitoring

What are the treatments for the injury?

A sling is one treatment for an injured body part. Here is how a sling is made.

First, cut or tear a triangular piece of cloth from either a sheet or a large piece of cloth. The material should be about 5 feet wide at the base and 3 feet long.

Tie two of the three ends together.

Place the tied end around the person's neck, keeping it very loose. The injured arm is then placed in the fold of the cloth and allowed to hang there.

It is important not to tie the sling too tightly. Loosen the sling if it is too tight.

Try not to realign any obvious misaligned body parts.

What are the side effects of the treatments?

First aid treatment with a sling seldom has side effects. If the sling is too tight, it may cause loss of blood flow to the area.

What happens after treatment for the injury?

After a sling has been applied, seek care from a doctor. He or she can recommend the right treatment, which will help to:

place the injured limb in a more permanent sling

reduce pain and swelling

refer the injured person for further treatment

Attribution

Author:James Broomfield, MD
Date Written:
Editor:Crist, Gayle P., MS, BA
Edit Date:08/30/02
Reviewer:Melinda Murray Ratini, DO
Date Reviewed:08/15/02

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