Uses of an Air Cast

Soccer stars David Beckham and Wayne Rooney use air casts when recovering from sports injuries. Many other athletes, professional and amateur, do too, and with good reason. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons suggests using air casts to stabilize injuries, like torn ankle ligaments. Some air casts immobilize injuries, similar to plaster casts, while others apply constant pressure on injured muscles. Air casts are primarily made of plastic and air, which makes them light-weight, removable and comfortable during recovery.

Ankle Injuries

• Orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine doctors and physical therapists often use air casts to mobilize sprained and broken ankles. The air cast provides solid ankle support but allows you to remove the cast for rehabilitative therapies. It cushions the ankle, gives constant pressure to reduce or prevent swelling and provides stable comfort as you heal and regain independent walking.

Knee Injuries

• Use an air cast for knee injuries and recovery from knee surgery. Some models wrap around your knee and hold ice and cold water for pain therapy. The inflatable cuff provides compression to reduce swelling and bleeding. Longer leg models stabilize your knee and limit its range of motion. These are often used after surgery or injury, too, but are used more like plaster casts and not for therapy treatments.

Elbow Injuries

• Lateral epicondylitis, also called golfer's elbow or tennis elbow, is painful and debilitating. Treatments vary from doses of acetometaphine and ibuprofen to surgery, but many people use a combination of drug therapies, exercise and bands to ease the pain and speed recovery. Air casts used for lateral epicondylitis use small air pockets to provide constant pressure on the affected muscle rather than compressing the entire arm. Alan R. Stockard, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and author, claims, "The most effective strap in my experience has been the Aircast Pneumatic Armband. People use these to ease pain without reducing their range of motion or activity level.

Foot Injuries

• People with foot injuries use air casts. These are similar to plaster casts. They support and immobilize the foot, but are made of plastic and inflatable air pockets. The air pockets provide complete support through their custom fit inflation, which reduces swelling and promotes healing. The cast is removable, which aids in bathing, therapies, stretching and general comfort. Air casts also have a rocker-type sole. This distributes your weight in a comfortable manner and encourages early mobility. Physiotherapists and sports trainers often use air casts because they are easy to use, provide stability and support to injured areas and are easy to transport.