The best way to shower with a Cast: How To Cover and protect it

Wearing a cast is not easy. While they do help you, casts make normal life quite difficult and can be quite annoying because of this. A common issue people have with casts is that they can’t get wet which makes showering with one very difficult.

In this article, we’ll be helping you find ways to shower with a cast on your arm or leg. However, before that, let’s first understand why you shouldn’t get your cast wet.

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Why Shouldn’t You Get Your Cast Wet?

Casts are made to stop you from moving in unwanted positions. While casts are sturdy and will keep your bones safe, one thing they aren’t is waterproof.

This is because the inner lining of most casts is made of cotton. This cotton can easily soak up water which can be quite problematic. Over time, this water can lead to the cultivation of dirt and also many other problems. So, keeping your cast dry is of utmost importance.

While this is usually an easy task for most people, showering can be quite a hassle. So, let’s cover some ways that you can shower with a cast on.

5 Ways You Can Shower With A Cast: cover and protect

Use a plastic bag or wrap

One of the most common methods for showering with a cast is to use a plastic bag or wrap. Since plastic is waterproof and most people have bags lying around, this option is quite easy to arrange and also cost-efficient. Just cover the cast with the bag or wrap and take a shower as you normally would.

The only problem you might have is that in the case of some leg casts, water might begin to seep in. This happens if there are any openings in the bag and can lead to water pooling up inside. To make sure this doesn’t happen, you can use tape near the end of the cast and stick the bag to your skin. This will seal the openings and stop any water from flowing in.

Take a bath instead

The problem with showers is that the water is sprayed directly at you and will flow straight into your cast. So, a great way to stay clean is to avoid showers altogether. If you have a bathtub, you can take baths instead of showers while you have your cast on. Just fill your bathtub with water and take a bath while keeping the arm or leg with the cast outside of the tub. This makes staying clean easy while also keeping your cast completely dry.

This method is quite relaxing and easy but a problem is that some casts may not work well with it. For example, if you have broken your upper arm, keeping the cast completely out of your tub might be difficult. So, remember to test this out in an empty bathtub to avoid any wet cast problems!

Ask for a waterproof cast

Unlike the common fiberglass casts, some companies have now come out with waterproof casts. You can ask if they are available as it will make showering a lot easier. These waterproof casts come in two varieties with one being fully waterproof while the other is coated in a water-resistant lining.

The fully waterproof variant is quite different from what you are used to and it has a unique spider web-like design. It is made out of fully waterproof material and allows your skin to breathe throughout the healing process. The cast itself is made from an outer mold that is filled with liquid after being placed on your arm. After this, the liquid hardens around your arm and turns into a personalized cast.

The other type of waterproof cast is not fully waterproof but does have a waterresistant layer. This layer repels water so you can get a few drops on it without having to worry. However, the inside of these casts is still cotton so you can’t use it for a proper shower or bath.

Use a detachable shower head

When showering with a cast, the hardest part is standing under the water and trying to keep your cast out of the large spray. A great solution to this is to use a detachable showerhead. These showerheads are connected through a long tube and you can take them off the wall and use them according to your convenience.

This means that you can control the flow, direction, and area of the water to avoid your cast. For example, if you have a cast on your right arm, just take a normal shower without turning the shower head towards your right arm. Although, make sure you don’t turn it around by mistake because you’ll get a direct spray of water at your cast.

Keep your cast away from direct water

If you tried all of these options or aren’t comfortable with them, there is always this method! As many lazy people have probably done, just keep your cast away from water. Whether it is holding your arm up in the air or standing on one leg to keep your cast away from the shower, all you have to do is avoid the water.

While this method probably does get the job done, it should be used with caution. This is because moving around so often can cause you to lose your balance and fall in the shower. Moreover, it is harder to save yourself from a fall when wearing a cast. Thus, this method is best avoided unless absolutely necessary.

Conclusion

We hope that one of these methods can help you make your recovery journey a bit easier and more hygienic. Whatever you decide works for you, make sure to stay safe when showering as it is much harder to control your balance with a heavy cast on!

We have discussed how to shower with an Apple watch here.