Walking Casts: What They Are & How They Help Healing

Injuring your leg or foot is a traumatic experience, especially if you have to go through the limited movement, itching, muscle wasting and other irritations involved with wearing a cast. A walking cast makes it easier to get around while your injury heals.

Purpose

• A cast is meant to immobilize injured bones and tissue, helping them heal and preventing you from re-injuring them.

Specialty

• If you have a leg or foot injury, a non-walking cast will require that you keep weight entirely off your affected leg by using crutches. A walking cast allows you to use the affected leg, although you may still need to use crutches at times.

Appearance

• Walking casts are usually plastic soles strapped on over a regular molded cast. Some are plastic soles that are applied directly to the bottom of the molded cast.

Care

• Do not walk on a walking cast until the molding material is completely dry. Fiberglass casts dry in approximately an hour; plaster casts take 2 to 3 days.

Problems

• Call your doctor if you experience tingling, pain, swelling or numbness, or if you can't move your toes.