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Step 1
Wrap the strap of a strap-only foam sling around your neck like a towel, with the supportive foam neck pad firmly secured at the back of your neck. If this is a sling with only one adjustable buckled loop at the end, slip your arm through the loop and then adjust the buckle up and down with your free hand until your injured arm rests securely and comfortably.
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Step 2
Secure the strap of a strap-only sling with two adjustable buckles around your neck in the same way outlined in Step 1, but place your arm through both loops and adjust as needed. Remember to adjust to a reasonable and secure comfort level, because overly loose or tight loops can exacerbate injuries or reduce circulation.
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Step 3
Pull the strap of a shoulder strap cuff style sling over your head and adjust the foam shoulder pad to the shoulder opposite the injured arm, as you would with a side slung bag or purse. Slip your hand and wrist through the cuff of the sling and then adjust the buckle on the strap up and down for comfort. You can also open the cuff before pulling the sling into place and then close it like a bracelet to conform to your wrist or arm size, as this style often uses hook-and-loop fasteners to open and close the cuff.
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Step 4
Put your injured arm into the cradle (arm pouch) of a cradle style sling. Pull the shoulder strap over your head and secure the shoulder pad to the shoulder opposite to the injured arm. Slide the adjustable buckle up and down as needed. Most cradle style slings also feature a loop or buckle contact closure on the cradle for easy access to the injured arm without removing the sling.
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Step 5
Loop the detachable foam swathe of a cradle style sling around your back, under your uninjured arm and across your injured arm, horizontal and above the cradle of the sling. Secure at the center of your chest with a hook-and-loop fastener or pressure-sensitive style hook. The swathe acts like a giant belt to hold the arm and cradle sling firmly against the body and in place.
