Category Archives: Leg

How To Swim With a Cast

During the summer months, being able to cool down in the pool or ocean is at the top of your list, until you broke a bone and got stuck in a cast! Don’t worry, your summer isn’t ruined! CastCoverz! is here to save it so you can swim in a cast. There are so many ways to try to make an “at home” waterproof cast protector, but those are not completely waterproof which can lead to your cast getting wet which may lead to needing expensive recasting and possibly infection.

Always get the “okay” from your doctor before you start any physical activity. After you are cleared we have a few products that can help you swim with a cast:

DRYPRO®

The DRYPRO® Cast Protector (available in arm and leg) is completely watertight keeping your casts and bandages dry. The DRYPRO offers the only cast protection in the world with the patented vacuum seal to keep you dry. It is so completely and totally waterproof, between the waterproof material and the vacuum seal, that you can even swim, dive off a diving board, or ride the ocean waves and still have your cast or bandage stay completely dry.

The DRYPRO protector fits snug yet comfortable offering protection during a shower, a bath, and even an active swim. Unlike “modified garbage bag” products, the cast protection offered by the DRYPRO protector is unmatched, it cannot come off. You can’t even pull it off! (Until you release the seal).

The cover is also used for immediate postoperative physical therapy, allowing hydrotherapy right after surgery, which helps prevent swelling and stiffness and aids in a speedy recovery.

The waterproof material is made of durable high-quality surgical latex. The pump not only creates the vacuum seal but also works as a gauge showing that the vacuum is intact and cannot leak. So go ahead and ENJOY THE WATER! But be sure to take the time to get the proper measurements so you get the right size! The wrong size may be too small or it may be too large allowing water to leak in. As we always say, “measure twice and order once!”

Latex Free Option: AquaShield® USA

AquaShield® waterproof cast cover protection keeps bandages, casts, splints, PICC lines, and prostheses dry from showering/bathing, even swimming. This latex-free option is very easy to put on and take off. No pump, latex-free, reusable, easy to store and pack for the beach or the pool!

We know how unfortunate being injured over summer can be, but we hope we could salvage spending your summer in a cast with these products and get you back in the water!

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

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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.

Helpful Products to Keep Your Cast or Boot Protected From The Elements

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In this Facebook Live: All Things Orthopedic, Annette de Lancey (Founder and Owner of CastCoverz!) discusses ways to protect your orthopedic device from the elements (cold weather, rain, wind, snow… ETC) with guest Dr. Scott Hoffinger, Medical Director of OrthoPediatrics, and Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon.

While having a cast may not be ideal, it will NOT prevent kids from trying to participate in normal activities. It is also not surprising that kids will find a way to get a cast wet, get it dirty and get involved. The best thing to do is plan ahead. If your child is going to be doing things that could get their cast wet or dirty, there is a need to protect the cast.

CastCoverz! has many products to keep casts and boots from getting wet from adverse weather conditions, shield from biting wind, and help them to stay dry. For arms we have CastCoverz! Mittz! Cozy and Mittz! Dry, which are designed for convenience as well as function and comfort. This product is weather-resistant but not meant for immersion, and paired together can provide superior protection from wet weather (rain, snow) and biting wind conditions.

Slickerz! which is a similar product for your leg is also weather-resistant and is used to protect your cast and your toes. Our BootGuardzXtreme! is for the orthopedic walking boot. It protects your orthopedic walking boot, boot liner, and toes from wind, rain and snow with our made-in-the-USA weather resistant material.

Keeping your orthopedic device clean and dry can stop infection, and help your injury heal better, so you feel 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!