Why You Should Consider a Waterproof Cast for Your Treatment  

If you require joint immobilization treatment, you may wonder about the best options available. If you are an active person and you spend much time in the water, a waterproof cast is likely a solid choice. However, many people do not realize until it is too late that a waterproof cast is probably the best option for most patients.

Even if you never spend time in a swimming pool, ocean, lake, or other body of water, this type of cast may still prove to be highly appropriate to your circumstances. You are still apt to come into contact with water on a daily basis, such as when you bathe, wash dishes, or simply go outside on a rainy day.

If you wear a plaster cast and allow it to get wet, you could actually prolong the time spent wearing a cast. This can affect the healing process since you may not be able to start physical therapy as soon as you should. In order to get started with the healing process in the most efficient manner possible, you might consider simply wearing a waterproof cast to spare yourself from much time and hassle.

A Waterproof Cast May Help You to Maximize Your Time

A cast that is not waterproof should not get wet, and this may lead to your spending extra time each day ensuring that this does not happen. Water can pool in the elbow of arm casts; therefore, you must raise your arm above your head when you take a shower. When you bathe, you will need to be certain that your ordinary plaster cast is covered completely with a waterproof material. This preventative measure takes some time to do properly. You may need to cover the cast in duct tape, medical tape, or another type of material that will keep the water away from and out of your cast. Once you are finished bathing, you will need to be sure that you are completely dry before you remove the waterproof material from the exterior of the cast. If any water has managed to leak through the material you have chosen, then your regular cast will require a drying-out period.

Baths and showers are not the only activities that require you to cover your cast. Anytime you wash dishes or perform other household tasks that involve water and other liquids, you must properly cover your cast. If you go outdoors on a rainy or snowy day, you will need to ensure that the cast is kept dry; if the cast is on your arm or wrist, this may not be a problem – but a cast on your leg can easily become wet in the rain. Countless patients have discovered that waterproof casts worked better overall for them; they offer better protection since people can shower without the need for covering them, and they prevent slips and falls by offering better traction in any kind of water.

A Waterproof Cast Could Help You to Save Money

In some cases, a waterproof cast may cost a bit more than the non-waterproof variety. This may motivate you to opt for an ordinary plaster cast. However, many people forget to take the responsibility of drying a regular cast seriously, and this can create numerous problems. If you repeatedly forget to protect your non-waterproof cast or to raise your arm over your head in the shower, you could be faced with the need to have your cast replaced with a dry one (and getting a new cast is generally far more expensive than paying a few dollars more for a waterproof one initially).

The Comfort and Convenience of a Waterproof Cast

Another important factor to consider is how comfortable your cast is. Boot casts are typically difficult to slip on and off; a form-fitted waterproof cast works better for casts that fit over the feet. A walking boot cast will generally have a sole that is relatively large, making it impossible to vacuum air from it to make it airtight.

Additionally, a woman may have problems with a regular boot cast; issues regarding a proper fit may arise. Numerous women and men may not appreciate the clunky feel of an ordinary boot cast. A snug, waterproof cast is far more likely to be a comfortable and convenient choice for either a man or woman.

Most patients hope to have their casts removed and to begin the rehabilitation process as soon as possible. If you wear the right kind of cast, this will be easier for you to accomplish.

A waterproof cast could ultimately spare you from much time, hassle, and expense, as well as from additional health issues that may result from wearing an ordinary cast that has gotten wet. If you prefer a waterproof cast it is possible to help change your doctor's mind my making a direct request.  Often patients will go with the product that the doctor recommends, but may not realize that an alternative product is often available.