The Best Ways to Make Your Cast Waterproof

Before traditional casts were invented, broken limbs were treated with methods and techniques that rarely awarded the same healing benefits as today. Bones would heal misshapen or deformed, sometimes even having difficulty being used the same way as before a break. 

Luckily, today’s fiberglass and plaster casts help immobilize broken limbs well enough that bones tend to heal as well as pre-injury. Unfortunately, when it comes to lifestyle disruption, they leave much to be desired. 

If you currently have a cast, you may have been told to not get it wet, and are now finding out just how difficult that can be. Let’s take a look at the dangers of getting a cast wet before looking at a few ways of cast waterproofing. 

Why You Shouldn’t Get Your Cast Wet 

Physicians advise against submerging a cast in water or even letting it get damp. This is because a wet cast can have a number of issues that range from the uncomfortable to the dangerous. 

Infections 

A wet cast can cause skin irritation and, if the skin is left wet long enough, it can lead to skin infections. The worry isn’t over if you simply pat the outside of the cast dry as the cotton lining inside of most traditional casts can stay wet for hours. 

If your cast gets significantly wet, you must go to your healthcare provider in order to dry the skin and reapply the cast. 

Cast Damage 

A wet cast isn’t just harmful to your skin, it can also damage your cast as well. Your cast may exhibit cracks or, in the case of some plaster casts, completely fall apart rendering the whole treatment ineffective. 

A weakened cast can even cause the bone to re-break in some instances, so it is vital to keep your cast dry and visit your healthcare provider in the event of a wet cast. 

Best Ways For Cast Waterproofing 

While it is very important to keep your cast dry, it can be difficult. In instances where you anticipate the opportunity for a cast to get wet, you can try cast waterproofing techniques such as: 

• Covering the cast with two garbage or plastic bags and tying with rubber bands 

• Utilize a waterproof cast cover 

If this list seems small, that’s because there are limited methods to waterproof traditional casts, and these methods have significant drawbacks. Traditional casts and the methods to waterproof them can: 

• Trap moisture underneath the cast, leading to skin concerns like infections 

• Provide inadequate waterproofing which can damage the cast 

• Create unhygienic conditions that promote bacterial or fungal growth

ActivArmor provides complete, hygienic waterproof casts. If you are looking for a waterproof cast that offers the same benefits as traditional casts while improving on them, consider ActivArmor’s breathable designed plastic, FDA-listed casts. 

ActivArmor: A Fully Waterproof Cast 

ActivArmor’s revolutionary 3D printed casts offer a lightweight, waterproof solution that lets people engage in their lifestyle without the worries associated with traditional casts. For patients who would rather avoid the risk of infection or cast breaking down to water, ActivArmor offers the solution.

Learn why patients seem to love ActivArmor over traditional casts.