How to Choose the Best Casting Tape

Fiberglass casting tape is strong, durable and easy to work with, so it’s no surprise medical professionals consistently choose fiberglass over other materials.

But choosing the best fiberglass casting tape can be tricky because not all products are made the same. There are several factors that affect how easy the tape is to apply, how well it performs and how comfortable it is for the patient.

Below we’ve outlined some key components to look for to ensure you’re using the best casting tape available.

Multi-Directional Stretch

Casting tape that offers a multi-directional stretch makes life easier for the patients who wear casts and for the medical professionals who apply them.

Tape that stretches in multiple directions is far more conformable than standard tape, making it easier and faster to form the right shape.

This is ideal for awkward angled areas presented by elbows and ankles as well as for Orthotic and Prosthetic applications where conformability is a must.

Controlled Work Time

When applying fiberglass casting tape, timing is everything. You want the tape to stay wet long enough for you to form the cast, but not so long that it doesn’t set soon after you’re finished.

Look for casting tape that’s designed to activate quickly in water, so the whole roll is ready to apply at once. That makes it easier to apply the cast using one continuous roll.

You should also consider casting tape with a low-tack resin. This helps you apply the tape in a controlled fashion so it sticks to itself, instead of your fingers.

Strength & Durability

The purpose of a cast, of course, is to immobilize and protect an injured limb. Fiberglass is a superior material for this because of its strength.

You should look more specifically for fiberglass casting tape that sets quickly so that it can bear weight within minutes after application. This ensures patients leave the facility with a fully functional, durable cast, and they won’t have to come back until it’s ready to come off.

Multiple Colors

Patients typically have to wear casts for a period of weeks or even months while their injury heals. That’s a long time to have to live with a cast.

To make that healing period just a little less monotonous, look for casting tape that comes in a wide variety of colors. Patients—both children and adults—appreciate the opportunity to choose their favorite color or a fun pattern.

Fiberglass Casting Tape by CNF Medical

Performance Casting® and Performance Casting® PLUS fiberglass casting tape from CNF Medical is designed to exceed the needs of medical professionals who apply casts, and the patients who wear them.

Both tapes include CNF Medical’s patented Aqua Core technology, which channels water to the inner layers of a tape roll, activating the tape faster. They also offer a low-tack resin for a controlled working time and excellent conformability.

Performance Casting PLUS casting tape features a multi-directional, three-plane stretch for easy application and superior conformability.

Most importantly, they result in a strong, durable cast (in a variety of colors, of course) that will help patients heal from their injuries.

For more information about casting tapes from CNF Medical, click here.