Tag Archives: mobility

How to Shovel Snow When Wearing A Boot, Cast, Brace, or While On Crutches

Tip #1 DON’T DO IT!
Yep! Shoveling snow while you are not able to properly bear weight is just not a smart thing to do. Seriously! There’s no way to stand and properly balance yourself, or to turn and pivot correctly without ending flat on your face with the great risk of more injury.

Tip #2 Help the Local Economy and Hire Neighborhood Kids
Pay the kids in the neighborhood their going rate to shovel your yard and sidewalk. You’re keeping them out of trouble, they make a little change, and you get to stay snug in your warm home sipping hot apple cider. As an added bonus – you don’t end up having another injury.

Tip #3 Ask for Help
OK, so you may not want the neighborhood kids doing the job (maybe they’re charging a premium for their services!), but you need help. ASK FOR IT. Simple as that! Family, friends, members of your church or community groups. Use them. They can only help if you ask.

Just say no and back away from the shovel (or snow-blower)! As your non-medical broken bone expert and healing advocate, you must trust me on this! I’ve dealt with a lot of broken bones (my daughter has had 12!) and heard horror stories from our customers who have made the mistake of thinking they could shovel snow while on crutches (try picturing it and the disastrous results). If you are using any kind of orthopedic device (boot, cast, brace, crutches, knee-walker) you are compromised, which means you must take extra care, and sometimes you just can’t do it all. Shoveling snow is one of those situations. Your boots, crutches, casts, knee-walkers are not built for traction in the snow.

So, when it comes to shoveling snow while injured, the answer to the question “How do I shovel snow when injured?” is, “Don’t!”

~Annette
Feel Better, Heal Better!

Doing Household Chores with an Injury

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One of the biggest adjustments with an injury is learning to accept your limitations. Typically, we recommend your only job while recovering is to rest and heal, which means letting others do chores and/or hiring people. But, we recognize that isn’t always realistic.

More importantly, part of healing and recovering is getting back to some normalcy. What better way than to get back to doing some chores! Completing everyday tasks with an injury takes a little creativity, a lot of asking for help, and some thought of how to do it, first, without injuring yourself further.

Read through all the tips and find the ones that apply to your condition. Because cooking is a task unto itself, please read our separate “Cooking While Injured” post. Read on cleaning diva…Hint: our most important tip is the last one and applies to everyone. Continue reading →

Playground Injury? Here’s What to Know

Got Hurt on the Playground? Here’s What to Know

A broken bone or injury can feel like a major setback, but there are ways to make the healing process easier. Here are a few key things to keep in mind after a playground injury:

1. Comfort is Key

Casts and boots can be itchy, bulky, and frustrating for kids. Make sure they have soft, breathable clothing that won’t irritate their injury, and consider protective covers to prevent snagging on furniture, clothes, or even pets!

2. Keep It Clean & Dry

One of the biggest challenges with casts and orthopedic devices is keeping them clean and dry. Whether it’s water from the pool or dirt from the playground, moisture and debris can cause discomfort and even slow the healing process. Waterproof protection and covers can help make everyday activities easier.

3. Encourage Safe Play

Just because your child has a cast doesn’t mean they have to sit on the sidelines! Look for low-impact activities that allow them to stay engaged while avoiding further injury. Talk to their doctor about safe ways to stay active.

4. Brighten Their Recovery

Let’s face it—kids don’t love being stuck in a cast. But a little color and personality can make a big difference! Fun, colorful covers for casts and boots can help make the experience a little more exciting and help your child feel more like themselves.

Playground Injury? We’ve Got You Covered

Maybe you’ve stumbled across our website because your child has experienced misfortune on the playground! As you can imagine, a child in any type of cast or orthopedic device faces a number of discomforts; casts scratching on skin or Fido, snagging clothing or furniture, not being able to play in water without waterproof protection, boots getting dirty from constant wear & tear? CastCoverz! offers a number of colorful solutions to brighten your child’s injury, helping your little one feel better & heal better.

Breaking Barriers: Ultimate Workout & Recovery Offers Adaptive Exercise

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A broken bone, a fun and functional cast cover, and… you’re still able to workout?! As with any injury, CastCoverz! customers know that rest and recovery are KEY ingredients for proper healing. But, this puts active lifestyles on the back burner. Wobbling around the gym on crutches, a boot, or trying to lift a weight with one arm in a sling isn’t what the doctor ordered or the team at CastCoverz! So, what do you do while your limbs are limping? And how do you maintain muscle strength for the rest of your body while you’re recovering? There is a NEW and intriguing innovation for those who are limited by injuries facing serious rehabilitation or have adaptive exercise needs. Introducing, the Ultimate Workout and Recovery adaptive exercise system designed for the injured in mind:

Ultimate Workout & Recovery is a cutting edge technology that provides adaptive exercise and strength training for those who face these injury-related limitations or have adaptive exercise needs. The company offers several different devices that can be assembled around a bed, recliner or wheelchair, living up to its name as “The Complete Exercise and Convenience Gym.” The apparatus is a unique tool to aid both in rehabilitation and muscle atrophy prevention. As you can imagine, a body at rest slowly loses strength, endurance, and flexibility. The series of resistance bands that accompany the system help to strengthen and maintain overall muscle function. To learn more visit https://www.workoutandrecovery.com/

Tip #1 DON’T DO IT! Yep! Shoveling snow while you are not able to properly bear weight is just not a smart thing to do. Seriously! There’s no way to stand and properly balance yourself, or to turn and pivot correctly without ending flat on your face with the great risk of more injury.