You should choose an arm bandage based on the type of injury you have or support you need, since there are many different types of bandages. Make sure you choose an item that is designed to treat the right type of injury, and get this information by talking to your doctor for a proper diagnosis. You may need a sling, cast, brace, or another type of bandage depending on what is wrong and the area of the arm affected. Open wounds should be treated with dressing, or an adhesive bandage intended for that purpose.
Before you attempt to find the best arm bandage, you should have your injury checked by a medical professional if pain is severe, you can’t move your arm, or if you have pain that has lasted for more than a few days. Most minor injuries will heal within a week or so if you don’t repeatedly re-injure the area, so anything lasting longer than this should be cause for concern. Any injury which causes intense pain should be checked out immediately.
If you have a repetitive motion injury, you will need an arm bandage that supports the affected area and keeps it steady. One common example of a repetitive motion injury is carpal tunnel syndrome. Those with this condition are often given a wrist support brace that takes pressure off the area and allows it to be held in a neutral position to prevent additional injury.
Less severe injuries, like a sprain, may only require that you use an arm bandage to prevent excessive movement of the area. This type of bandage may include slings and similar devices. You are still free to move the arm in a limited way, but it is held steady enough to prevent further injury.
Casts are usually reserved for broken bones. These are not something you can go into a store and buy yourself, as they can only be applied by a health care professional. They will hold the arm very steady and allow little to no movement in order to set the bone back in the proper place. Casts are usually much tighter than other bandages in order so that the arm remains complete still in the area which has the break.
In the case of an open wound, you would choose and arm bandage designed to absorb blood and keep germs and bacteria away from the area. Products used for this purpose are commonly called dressing, but there are adhesive bandages sold over the counter for minor cuts and scrapes. Serious wounds have to be treated by a doctor who has access to additional treatments. Some injuries may require stitches.