Three Newly Designed Arm Slings for the Stroke Patient with Shoulder Subluxation: A case report

ABSTRACT

We reported three types of newly designed arm slings (the "V" strap pouch arm sling, the Modified hemisling, the Tripod arm sling). The three slings and the conventional hemisling were all tested by a single stroke patient for the correction of shoulder subluxation. Sling effectiveness was evaluated by simple shoulder AP X-rays, quantitative electromyography (root mean square; RMS), strap tension, and preference of the patient. Of the four types, the "V" strap pouch arm sling reduced the vertical displacement the most. RMS values of the supraspinatus muscle tended decrease and strap tension was also lower after using the "V" strap pouch arm sling compared with others. The patient also preferred the "V" strap pouch arm sling to the other slings. We suggested that "V" strap pouch arm sling was the most effective among four types of arm slings (including conventional hemisling) for the correction of shoulder subluxation, and patient's preference.