Category Archives: Comfort and Care

How to Care for Your Cast and Have Fun at the Beach!

This summer many of us plan to head to the beach. If you’re wearing a cast you might be wondering if you’ll be able to enjoy the sand and sun or if you’ll just wind up hot, itchy, and with a lot of sand in your orthopedic device.

There’s no need to cancel your beach holiday just because you, your friend, or a family member has a broken bone. A few practical tips and one or two FUNctional accessories are all you need to keep your cast sand-free and dry so you can have an enjoyable, comfortable trip to the seaside.

Products such as DRYPRO and AquaShieldUSA make waterproof covers for arm and leg casts as well as bandages, splints, PICC lines, and prostheses. DRYPRO® is the industry standard for superior water protection. AquaShieldUSA is our latex-free option. Waterproof covers are pulled over and sealed a couple of inches above the cast to keep water and sand out. They are reusable as well but keep in mind that they are not to be worn for extended periods of time.

Sizing is extremely important to get right when it comes to waterproof covers since they are considered medical products and are usually non-returnable items. Make sure you refer to the sizing information on each product page and if you need help, don’t hesitate to call us at 1(800) CASTCOVER (1-800-227-8268) for assistance. It is also important to note that covers like DRYPRO and AquaShield USA should never be worn with an orthopedic boot. CAUTION: FOR YOUR SAFETY never swim with an orthopedic boot. Click here to learn more about enjoying the beach while wearing a boot.

When it comes to keeping sand and other beach debris out of your cast the solution can be a simple item you can buy at the grocery store: Glad® Press‘n Seal®. Just wrap Press’n Seal around a cast and make sure to overlap so 1″ or 2″ of your skin provides the seal. It will keep you dry for light water activities (splash and plays, sprinklers, etc…) and will keep sand out as well.

If you do happen to get sand or debris in your cast, it’s best to call your doctor. Never attempt to clean it out yourself and never stick anything down the cast to try and get debris out. That can break or irritate the skin and lead to infection.

And if you do happen to get your cast wet or damp, the CastCooler® comes to your rescue! Just wrap it around the cast, grab the vacuum, plop on the couch to watch your favorite summer show or sports, attach the hose to the CastCooler and let it dry and cool your cast! If you happen to be staying at a resort or a hotel and didn’t bring your vacuum cleaner from home 🙂 just request a vacuum cleaner with a hose from housekeeping. They are often very accommodating to their guests.

Your beach holiday should be about relaxing and enjoying time with your family and friends, not about stressing over how to keep a cast sand-free and dry. CastCoverz! offers a huge range of FUNctional, fashionable solutions, including waterproof covers, boot covers, leg covers, arm covers, slings and cooling accessories. Explore these and other products to make your trip to the beach as comfortable as possible.

Summer Q&A With CastCoverz!

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CastCoverz! understands how awful it is to have an injury during the sunny summer months, and we know you have questions about how to stay comfortable and keep doing the activities you love.

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions from how to keep the sand out of your cast, to our waterproof options:

Do your cast covers keep beach sand out?

Our fabric covers, also known as our daily wear products, are stretchy Lycra®/spandex, which is a woven product. Our covers will keep most of the sand out. But, some grains of sand will sneak past the fabric fibers.

Do you sell waterproof covers for an orthopedic fracture boot (aka fracture boot or cam boot)?

No, we don’t. Why? For 2 very important reasons.

#1 They aren’t manufactured.

#2 It would be a HUGE RISK and UNSAFE product. CastCoverz! manufactures and distributes only “Feel Better, Heal Better” products. A cover for an orthopedic boot is unsafe because if any water seeped in the wearer would sink like a rock.

Are your covers waterproof, too?

Our daily wear covers are not waterproof. They are made out of stretchy fabric that covers your cast, brace, or boot. The stretchy fabric, a blend of polyester or cotton and Lycra®/spandex, is a woven product; think bathing suit. So, water flows through the fabric but covers the orthopedic device with a fun fashion statement or a discreet choice. In addition, they don’t seal above your cast or brace which is necessary to waterproof a cast or brace.

IF you’re looking for waterproof options, try DRYPRO® or our latex-free option AquaShieldUSA (both available in arms and legs).

Can I swim in a cast?

For most orthopedic patients wearing a standard cast and are 7-10 days beyond the injury, the answer is an enthusiastic, “YES!” But, you’ll need to seal that cast in a waterproof product. CastCoverz! is proud to distribute DRYPRO®, the industry standard for a rugged, reliable waterproof product. We also carry a latex-free option, AquaShieldUSA.

We hope these tips help you with your injury during the summer months, and help you keep cool in the sun! We’re here to help you feel better, and heal better.

Why You Might Experience Pressure Inside Your Cast Or Splint and Other Interesting Cast Facts

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In this Facebook Live: All Things Orthopedic, Dr. Hoffinger, Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon, is sharing more about why some patients experience pressure inside their cast or splint, as well as answering other frequent questions.

As with any injury or surgery, we encourage you to share your concerns with your doctor. If you’re noticing increasing pressure or pain, be cautious & let your orthopedic team know what you’re experiencing.

Why a splint before a cast?

Certain fractures can swell a lot which doctors try to accomodate; it is one of the reasons that people are told in the emergency room not to make an orthopedic appointment right away. If you do, you will have to get splinted and then come back to have it changed to a cast. This is not true for all fractures, but when you are splinted for the most part, doctors are expecting it to swell. Splints are often put on first because a cast can cause a lot of pressure.

Why is my cast shaped so funny?

When doctors cast a fracture, there is an old saying that “a crooked cast makes a straight bone”. If you have a fracture that wants to angle one way, a doctor will make the cast have a little bit of a bend in the opposite direction.

Why do some people feel pressure when wearing a cast or splint?

If you are feeling pressure, that is the time to elevate the cast or injury. A little bit of reduction in swelling can make a big difference in how you feel. If you keep the injury down it may hurt more because the blood is rushing to it which causes swelling. Some pressure inside of the cast is normal, just be cautious that it does not keep getting worse or is intolerable.

We hope this video was helpful & encouraging. Please leave your family-friendly comments below!

Spring Break Activities and Tips

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Who’s looking forward to SPRING BREAK? Whether you’re home-bound recovering from surgery or a broken bone or planning a fun family vacation, CastCoverz! has some tips and tricks to make the best out of it.

The article Spring Activities For Family Fun, by Catherine Holecko, Parents.com, suggests 35 Spring Break Activities and Ideas for Kids at Home.

If you have a teen or tween this Easter, Parents.com gives creative and alternative ways of filling their Easter basket. You can read their creative tips HERE!

Your spring break vacation has been planned beach or poolside and now you happen to be wearing a cast…OH NO! Check out CastCoverz! for products that will keep your cast clean, dry, and sand free. AquaShield provides waterproof protection for bathing. DRYPRO is your answer to swimming, by offering the only waterproof cast protection in the world with the patented vacuum seal to keep your cast completely dry.

If you do happen to get your cast wet or need some odor and itch relief, CastCooler® will speed dry your cast and provide much needed relief from common cast discomforts.

Regardless of your Easter plans, all of us at CastCoverz! are wishing you a blessed and safe Easter!