Hmm, after all the great feedback and working very hard (and succeeding!) for last three weeks to get my sad brain to shut up and my body to get into the pool, I fell and broke my hand. :shakeshead:
So now my question is, has anyone ever swum in a waterproof cast (doctor said it was a possibility once I'm a little bit healed)? I've asked a few people and have been advised against it, in that they say these casts begin to reek quite quickly (I'm assuming that at least for a few weeks I won't be able to take it on/off).
Perhaps this will be my opportunity to cross-train extensively.... Take up ballet again.... Shoot! is all I can say. Four to eight weeks of cast-ville.
Advice re waterproof casts? (I did search here but nothing popped up.)
isobel
Parents
Former Member
I had a waterproof (fiberglass) cast when they first came out, back when I was...14?...on my forearm.
It never smelled, although having it wet all day since we did doubles was a little irritating. I tried to dry it with a hair dryer as best as I could before going to school. It also tended to drip water for a little while after swimming--again, the hair drying helped that.
There was little, if any, skin deterioration compared to my friends who had plaster casts. My skin looked fine, and wasn't peeling or anything after the cast was removed. My arm did not have much muscle weakness afterwards, either. Although I could feel somewhat of a difference, it only lasted a week or so.
The best part...My coach suggested that they wrap a paddle with the fiberglass onto my forearm so I had some extra resistance when I swam. My times during meets really weren't too far off my best times, and of course I had coaches from other teams complaining, even though I didn't place near where I would have placed. After I swam my 1500 with my cast on at a meet I received a standing ovation from everyone on the deck. Loved that.
Also...no one wanted to swim in my lane for fear of the accidental wallop my cast would give, especially during fly sets!
I had a waterproof (fiberglass) cast when they first came out, back when I was...14?...on my forearm.
It never smelled, although having it wet all day since we did doubles was a little irritating. I tried to dry it with a hair dryer as best as I could before going to school. It also tended to drip water for a little while after swimming--again, the hair drying helped that.
There was little, if any, skin deterioration compared to my friends who had plaster casts. My skin looked fine, and wasn't peeling or anything after the cast was removed. My arm did not have much muscle weakness afterwards, either. Although I could feel somewhat of a difference, it only lasted a week or so.
The best part...My coach suggested that they wrap a paddle with the fiberglass onto my forearm so I had some extra resistance when I swam. My times during meets really weren't too far off my best times, and of course I had coaches from other teams complaining, even though I didn't place near where I would have placed. After I swam my 1500 with my cast on at a meet I received a standing ovation from everyone on the deck. Loved that.
Also...no one wanted to swim in my lane for fear of the accidental wallop my cast would give, especially during fly sets!
