Your legs do matter!

Tuesday 04 June 2019

Over the course of this week, a team of healthcare professionals and specialists are trying to remind us that we need to look after our legs and feet.

Free drop-in sessions are being held today, Wednesday 5 June outside the Emma Ferbrache room at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital as well as on Thursday 6 June between 09:00 and 12:00 at the Complex Wound Clinic at the INR Clinic at Castel Hospital site.

On Friday 7 June Chiropodist Carrie Eddie from St Sampson's Medical Centre will also be visiting the wards at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital.

Inspired by last year’s ‘Stop the Pressure’ campaign, the week of 3-7 June has been launched as an opportunity to raise awareness of the vital importance of informed, good quality care for our lower bodies. The project is aimed at reaching islanders directly, encouraging them to be on the lookout for possible symptoms as well as to preemptively seek advice and subsequent help when is necessary.

The team are stressing the knock-on effect that negligence of leg and foot care can have on mental health wellbeing as well as the extent it can physically worsen if left neglected. The week also hopes to stress the importance of keeping body weight down and eating a balanced diet since weight increases leave patients at a higher risk of contracting lymphedema and can contribute towards a multitude of other health problems.

Pictured: Yesterday's display at Beau Sejour. 

Beyond the obvious benefits of keeping active and moving, Tissue Viability Clinical Nurse Specialist Ellie Phillips says there are daily ritual habits we can undertake to reduce the risk of problems and complications in the future. General precautions that can be taken are ensuring feet and legs are kept clean and dry, wearing good fitting footwear as well as applying moisturiser to the entire leg so they stay soft and supple.

The Legs Matter team will be hosting island wide teaching sessions for community nurses going into senior retirement homes and for other various health professionals and specialists. Lectures are also being held for nurses and carers in the community and the team will visit wards and senior living residences.

‘If you don’t look after your feet and your legs, as you get older you start to develop problems. As we age, our blood supply to legs is not as good as when we are younger.’

Leg ulcers are becoming more commonplace locally and once diagnosed they need a lot of treatment to heal, and need the patient to wear hosiery for long periods of time which can be severely debilitating.

Pictured top: Ellie Philips and Meg Lowe at the first Legs Matter roadshow held yesterday.