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Serial Casting
Serial casting is a non-invasive conservative therapeutic technique. A cast provides a long-term passive stretch to increase muscle length and improve alignment and function.
Did You Know?
Serial casting can also be used for constraint-induced therapy regimens. What is this? If a child does not use one arm or one leg as much as the other, the more functional arm or leg could be casted for short periods of time to require the child to increase the use of the other arm/leg.
Serial Casting FAQs
Types of Casts
Fiberglass casts
Static positioning solid casts that must be removed with a cast saw by a trained therapist or medical personnel and cannot get wet. Families are given cast shoes to be worn at all times with specific written instructions for questions, concerns, and precautions.
Soft casts
Semi-flexible casts that cannot get wet, and can be removed by the caregiver by simply unwrapping the cast. They can be used to determine appropriateness of orthotics, to determine tolerance to casting, to gain initial weight bearing skills, or for long term passive stretch in children without severe hypertonia. Families are given cast shoes to be worn at all times with specific written instructions for questions, concerns, and precautions.
Bivalved casts
Fiberglass casts split into a clam shell design and attached with Velcro straps for long term passive stretching. They are typically used as night splints after a serial casting course is completed for maintenance of range of motion. Families are given written instructions for wearing schedules and precautions.
Developmental Checklist
Is your child meeting their developmental milestones?
Success Story
My son has autism and toe walks frequently. Wearing Orthotics alone didn’t decrease his toe walking as much as his father and I hoped so Ms. Sarah recommended serial casting. The serial casting treatment was an excellent option for him. His treatment required casting on both legs. He tolerated each casting session very well and the casts didn’t bother or stop him from being active. The serial casts helped my son to better control his walking speed which increased his awareness of planting his feet flat on the ground when he walked. They also gently stretched his tight calf muscles allowing him to keep his heels down when he walks. Serial casting was the best treatment option for my son!