This article is general information, not medical advice. Always follow the instructions from your doctor or care team about your cast or dressing.
Short answer: An arm shower sleeve is a waterproof tube that slides over your arm and seals at the top and bottom to keep a cast, dressing or line dry. Open-ended sleeves suit the upper arm, elbow and forearm; a cast that runs down to your hand needs a closed-end cast cover.
Open-ended sleeve or closed-end cast cover?
- Open-ended shower sleeve: seals on the upper arm and on the forearm, leaving your hand free. It works when everything you need to keep dry sits between those two seals, such as an upper-arm dressing, a PICC line, or a cast that stops short of the wrist.
- Closed-end cast cover: a bag-shaped cover that goes over the hand and seals at the top. You need this type when a cast or dressing covers your wrist or hand.
Our sleeve is the open-ended type, so check where your cast ends before you buy.
How to measure over a cast
Measure around the widest part of your upper arm, where the top seal will sit, and around your forearm where the lower seal will sit. If your cast passes under either seal, measure around the cast at that point instead. Then check the length: the sleeve should cover the whole cast or dressing with a little room at each end.
| Size | Sleeve length | Bicep | Forearm |
|---|---|---|---|
| S/M | 14.5 in | 8.5 to 12 in | 6.5 to 10 in |
| L/XL | 14.5 in | 11.5 to 16 in | 10 to 15 in |
| XXL | 17.5 in | 16 to 21.5 in | 10.5 to 19 in |
How to shower with an arm sleeve
- Start with a dry arm and a dry cast or dressing.
- Stretch the top opening and slide the sleeve on, hand first, until it covers the cast or dressing.
- Check that both seals lie flat against your skin with no folds.
- Shower with your arm away from the direct spray. A handheld shower head helps.
- Dry the outside of the sleeve before you take it off, so no drips land on the cast.
What to look for in a shower sleeve
- Seals that hold without squeezing. Stretchy, self-sealing openings are easier to get on over a cast.
- Latex-free material. Ours is latex-free, odorless TPU with a neoprene seal ring.
- Reusable. If you will be in a cast for weeks, a sleeve you can rinse and air-dry saves money over disposable covers.
What if my cast gets wet?
Contact your doctor or care team for advice. Some casts can be damaged by water, and a damp lining can irritate the skin underneath, so do not wait to see if it dries on its own.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take a bath with a shower sleeve?
Sleeves are made for showers and baths, but keep your arm out of the water. Do not submerge a cast or dressing unless your care team says it is OK.
Can I use the same sleeve over a PICC line or IV site?
Often, yes. See our guides to showering with a PICC line and keeping an IV site dry.
How do I clean it?
Rinse it with mild soap and water after each use and let it air-dry.
Our arm shower sleeve
Our reusable waterproof arm shower sleeve protects casts, dressings, PICC lines and IV sites on the arm, in sizes S/M, L/XL and XXL. See all cast and PICC covers.