Serial Casting

Cook Children’s Rehabilitation Services uses evidence-based interventions to improve your child’s function. Serial casting improves range of motion in shortened muscles. This can help your child stand, walk or move better and decrease their pain. Serial casting may be used after Botox or to help postpone surgery.

How does serial casting work?

A padded, three-layer cast is applied to the shortened muscles. The cast is worn for five to seven days to provide a prolonged muscle stretch. Upon removal, the therapist will assess your child’s range of motion and apply a new cast to continue to stretch their muscles. Serial casting occurs for an average of three to six weeks. This depends on how tight your child’s muscles are and their tolerance to the casts. Orthotic intervention and physical therapy treatment may follow serial casting.

Does my child need serial casting?

If you think your child would benefit from serial casting, please talk to your physician and physical therapist. Commonly treated diagnoses include:

Cerebral palsy
Idiopathic toe walking
Spina bifida
Muscular dystrophy
Congenital abnormalities
Spinal cord injury

Physician referrals/consults

Physicians, make a referral or schedule consultation

Refer/consult

Schedule an appointment

What to expect at the evaluation?

Please bring your child in shorts or a skirt. The evaluation may take one to two hours, depending on what is being cast. Your child will need to lay still on their stomach while the cast is being applied. We have iPads available but you can bring anything that helps your child stay distracted and calm. This could include non-messy snacks, books and activities. At the end of the evaluation, the therapist will give your child cast shoes to wear. They will review cast care, precautions and cast removal with you.

Cast care

Your child can move and play normally while wearing their cast and cast shoe. They cannot get their cast wet. The cast should be removed 24 hours before your next visit unless your child complains of pain, numbness, tingling or you notice a change in the color of their skin. The cast should be immediately removed then. Your child may complain of some discomfort the first 24 hours when getting used to the muscle stretch. Our casts can be removed at home by a caregiver.

Cast care and cast removal instructions

Download care instructions

Download removal instructions

We're here to help.

If your child has been recommended to us, you probably have lots of questions. We can help. If you would like to schedule an appointment, refer a patient or speak to our staff, please call our offices at 682-885-4063.