An orthopedic cast is designed in the form of a shell. This is mostly prepared from plaster of Paris.

The cast is mostly used in encasing a broken limb or a large portion of the body. It helps in holding a broken bone in place to trigger the healing process. Its function is much similar to that of a splint. There are various kind of casts available based on the location where they are applied and their functions:-

Short arm cast This type of casts are applied to the hand below the elbow. These are applied on the

fractures of the wrist and the forearm. The short arm cast is also used to hold the muscles of the wrist and the forearm in place after the surgery. Long arm cast - The long arm cast is used on the upper portion of the arm including the upper arm, elbow or forearm. This type of cast also helps in acting as a support for the muscles on those areas after a surgery. Arm cylinder cast - This type of cast is used to cover the upper arm up to the wrist. An arm cylinder cast is good to hold the tendons and the elbow muscles in place following a surgery or a dislocation. Shoulder spica cast This cast is applied to the trunk of the body to the arm, hand and shoulder. It is mostly used after shoulder dislocations surgeries or dislocations at the shoulder area. Minerva cast The Minerva cast is applied around the trunk and the neck of the body. It is used on the neck area or the upper portion of the back area after a surgery. Short leg cast - The short leg cast is used on the area located below the knee proceeding to the foot. It is used in fractures of the lower leg, ankle sprains or fractures and also to hold the muscles and tendons of the leg and the foot in place even after a surgery. Leg cylinder cast This cylinder leg cast is applied starting on the upper portion of the thigh to the ankle of the leg. It can act as a support to the leg area or the knee area including the knee, lower leg and knee. Unilateral hip spica cast This cast is applied starting on chest to the foot in case of a thigh fracture. The hip or thigh muscle and tendons are held in place after a surgery. One and one-half hip spica cast This cast is applied to the foot of one leg and to the knee of the other leg from the chest. Generally a bar is placed between both the legs. This will help in keeping the legs and the hips immobilized. Bilateral long leg hip spica cast - This cast is designed to be applied on the chest to the feet. here also a bar is placed and is mostly applied to the fractures in the thigh, hip and pelvis regions. Short leg hip spica cast The cast is this case is applied to the knees or thighs from the chest. It also holds the muscles and tendons of the hip area in place following a surgery to process healing. Abduction boot cast - The cast which is applied from the upper thighs to the feet is ideally named as the abduction boot fracture. A bar is placed in between both the legs keeping their legs and hips immobilized.

Photo Credit pink bandage image by Keith Frith from Fotolia.com

Supportive braces can prevent pain and get you back to your daily activities. Braces can be stabilizing, immobilizing or flexible to suit your pain and desired range of motion. A brace is often a preferred alternative to invasive surgery, but a reduction in pain may only be temporary, even when coupled with physical therapy. Knee Braces Knee braces come in four fits, and your doctor most often determines the style you should wear after careful assessment of your pain. Prophylactic braces are for protection from contact sports like football. Functional braces provide support for previous injuries to your knee. Rehabilitative braces limit harmful movement of your knee while you are healing from an injury or surgery. Unloader or offloader braces provide relief for those with knee joint arthritis. According to FamilyDoctor.org, a good knee brace can provide comfort and speed healing, but braces are not as important as stretching and strengthening your knees daily.

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Wrist Braces Doctors treating patients with repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome often prescribe wrist braces. A good wrist brace should not cover your fingers--so that you can still type and pick up objects--but should keep your wrist immobilized so that it can rest and heal. Wearing a brace does not mean that you should perform increasingly strenuous tasks; you should keep your activities minimal until the pain subsides. Back Braces A back brace is one treatment option for scoliosis--curvature of the spine. The brace is worn under clothing and places pressure on the back and ribs to push the spine into a straighter, more natural position. This type of brace is usually worn full-time until the curvature of bones has slowed, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Other types of back braces can be worn for sports, injuries or chronic pain relief at your discretion; they do not have to be prescribed by your doctor. For example, many recreational weightlifters wear back braces for compound movements such as squats and lunges to prevent injury and correct their form. Ankle Braces Ankle braces and supports come in a variety of styles similar to knee braces. Mild support braces provide light compression and stabilization and are ideal for first-degree sprains and strains. Moderate support braces give you extra stability during sports and activities where you may be likely to twist your ankle. These braces can also be worn during the recovery period after a sprain. Maximum support and walking braces immobilize your ankle after severe injuries such as third-degree sprains and fractures and provide compression to reduce painful swelling.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/179790-what-are-the-different-types-ofbraces/#ixzz1fX9JLQiY